How To Properly Test Drive A New Car

Consumers are willing to buy a new car -- the second most expensive purchase for most people -- without actually testing it out first!!

The reality is there is no replacement for testing out a car, despite having so many shopping tools at one's fingertips. We absolutely recommend that you use our shopping tools to do your research, but you need to actually experience a car yourself.

If you're unsure of what to do or what to expect during a test drive, read on to learn how you should evaluate a car. You don't have to be a pro to make the right decision:


1. Take Your Time; Too often, drivers rush through the test drive, due to schedule crunches, not wanting to be around the salesman or just plain apathy about cars in general. Trust us -- take a good, long time when you're on the road. It will pay off in the long run.

2. Park It; Is it easy or difficult to parallel park? Are there big blind spots that interfere with backing out of a space? Is it maneuverable enough to meet your daily parking needs? Can you get in and out with ease? These are aspects of car ownership that a lot of people don't think about, which can turn into issues after it's already too late.

3. Play with the tech and other features; So much goes into driving a car in addition to working the gas, brakes and steering that you should absolutely devote some time to testing these things out.

4. Test the handling as the driver and the passenger; Get a feel for how the car drives from the perspective of the driver and the passenger. A vehicle's handling can be a very important aspect of your ownership experience. 

5. Listen for Anything and Everything; At some point during your test drive, turn the radio off and, since many car salesman will talk throughout the drive, ask them to kindly zip it for a few minutes so you can listen for any issues with the car

6. Don't Fall Into a False Sense of Security; New or Used - You should be just as meticulous as you would testing a used car.

7. Bring a Friend; Finally, and perhaps most importantly, two sets of eyes and ears are always better than one. Bringing a friend or family member who can help you notice things that you may not catch yourself. 

Schedule a test drive at our dealership today!

Call (888) 452-3896