Buying a Car? 7 Tips for Test Driving Before You Buy
There are a number of core steps involved in the car buying process. While the internet is changing the way that people buy cars, there are certain steps in the purchase process that should never be skipped – one of the most important is to test drive a car before buying it.
It Is Estimated That Approximately 10% of People
Do Not Test Drive A Vehicle Before Purchasing It
Here are some tips for test driving a car:
- Actually Test Drive the Vehicle: It is surprising how many people decide to skip the test drive before buying a car. Don’t be one of them – Always test drive a vehicle before you make your purchase decision.
- Test Drive Multiple Vehicles: Take your test driving to the next level by test driving multiple makes and models. This is the only way to assess your level of comfort when it comes to driving a car. It also gives you a point of reference when comparing cars.
- Drive the Car! A test drive is the time to put the car to the test. Take it on the highway, accelerate, change directions, park it, and test out the brakes.
- Do Some Research Before Getting Behind the Wheel: This enables you to be more familiar with the car you are test driving and better understand the pros and cons of the car in terms of drivability.
- Listen: It is important to turn off the radio and listen to the vehicle. Listen for road noise, squeaks, rattles, and other sounds that are out of sorts. This is especially important if you are test driving a used car.
- Take your Time: Don’t rush through the test drive. Take your time and test out the various features of the car. A reasonable test drive lasts about 30 minutes or so.
- Test Drive It Again: If you are still on the fence about the car or are trying to choose between multiple cars, take them out for a test drive again. This should help you solidify your decision.
Have you ever purchased a vehicle without test driving it first? How many cars on average do you test drive before you make your final purchase decision?