For a large part of the past year or so, test drives have either been on hold or restricted. But now that you are free to get back behind the wheel on a test drive and experience your prospective new car for real, it’s important that you ensure you get the most out of it. A test drive can be the make or break between signing on the dotted line or going back to the drawing board.
Take your time
Normally you won’t be given a set time for your test drive but ask the salesperson how long you can have it out for. At least 30 minutes would be a good time to spend and let you get a proper feel for the car. Don’t feel pressured to take it for a quick spin and bring it back. With a brand-new car, you may not think you need a long test drive but for used cars, especially ones that maybe have a higher mileage, you’ll be able to spot any issues on a decent test drive.
Choose a good route
If you’re unfamiliar with the area around the dealership then the salesperson will be able to advise you on a good route and should be able to either come along with you or provide a map or enter details into a Sat Nav. Getting a proper feel for how the car handles different roads is useful on your test drive. For example, if you can get on the motorway or dual carriageway to get it up to speed and then some quieter, local roads too. A lot of drivers also forget to try parking on a test drive so make sure you test this out too, especially if the car is a lot bigger than you are used to or if it has parking sensors.
Bring someone with you
Whether that’s your partner who will be sharing the car with you or just a friend, getting a second opinion is a really good idea. Not only because buying a car is a big purchase, going car shopping and taking test drives is a fun day out and should be shared with someone else.
If they are a driver too, get them to take the wheel and you can experience the car from the passenger’s point of view.
Get a rundown of the controls
Don’t be too proud to do this. You’re not going to be able to properly concentrate on, and enjoy, the test drive if you’re not familiar with all the controls. The weather in Scotland can take a turn at any point, from scorching sun to pouring rain in minutes so getting caught out on the test drive and not knowing how to turn on the wipers could be a disaster and cause unnecessary panic. The car may have specs and controls that you aren’t aware of so take a few minutes at the start of the drive to check them out.
Drive another car to compare
You may have one car in mind and the test drive is the final stage in making your decision, but it can also be a good idea to take another car out to compare. Even if it’s a similar body type from a different brand in the same price bracket, it’s definitely worth taking this time to rule out other options, or even rule in some new ones.
Ask questions
Don’t worry about sounding stupid. The salesperson is there to sell the car and the best way to do this is to convince you that it’s the right choice. They’ll want to answer any questions you may have, no matter how small or silly you may feel they are. Ask about road tax costs, average insurance prices, service and MOT plans the dealership may have and of course, how any of the controls work that had you baffled.
