How to test drive a used car?

How to take a test drive at a car dealership

Perhaps one of the most important factors influencing the purchase of a car can be a test drive. about how to take a test drive at a car dealership .

A test drive is a test drive. Any self-respecting car dealership offers potential buyers a test drive in the model they are interested in.

How do test drives take place at car dealerships?

To take a test drive of the model you are interested in, it is better to sign up in advance. To do this, it is better to call the car dealership and discuss the exact date and time of the trip.

To take a test drive you will need a driver's license and passport.

Having arrived at the appointed time for the test drive, you need to fill out the necessary documents for the trip. Typically, car dealership managers make a photocopy of your license and passport, and also draw up an agreement for a test drive, where you sign that you are not intoxicated, etc.

Where does the test drive take place?

In most cases, the test drive takes place on ordinary city streets.

Each car dealership coordinates the test drive route with the traffic police, so check with the manager which route you will take. In any case, the manager will be with you in the test car, if anything he will tell you where to turn, etc.

In the case of SUVs, the route may include special tracks to test the off-road potential of the model. The largest car dealerships even have their own sites and off-road parks for such test drives.

The test drive usually takes no more than half an hour.

Myths about test drive

test drive at a car dealership is paid
To pass a test drive you need a lot of experience
You can only take a test drive when purchasing a car.

In fact, the test drive is always free. As for the second, it is usually enough to have 1 year of driving experience to be allowed for a test drive.

Of course, you don't have to buy a car to take a test drive. You can drive around showrooms, test different models - no one will force you to buy them.

A little more about the test drive

Don't be afraid to take a test drive before purchasing the car you're interested in. How can you fully judge a car if you haven’t even driven it?

However, you shouldn’t completely trust your impressions after the trip either. In 99% of cases, cars are provided with maximum configuration for a test drive. If you are planning to buy a basic configuration, it may be very different from the one you rode.

During the test drive, you should not violate traffic rules - you left copies of your license and passport at the car dealership, the travel time is specified in the test drive agreement. If you later receive a fine during the period of time you were driving, you will be required to pay it.

And one more thing - a test drive, this is not a traffic police exam. Drive the car the way you drive it every day to get a feel for how it behaves on the road.

Why does a car dealership need a test drive?

For a car dealership, this service is beneficial because it allows you to improve the commercial potential of retail outlets:

Additional advertising. Information about the availability of a test drive service at a car dealership can be placed in advertisements, as well as on billboards near points of sale. This helps to attract the attention of potential buyers.
Improving the number of sales. Imagine yourself in the shoes of a driver-buyer: you want to buy a car and you have found two salons - one of them has a test drive of cars, while the other does not have such a service. Obviously, you will give preference to the first salon.
Improving the quality of sales. Some buyers, usually people with moderate incomes, prefer cheaper car models, even if they have enough money for a more expensive car. The explanation for this fact is simple - it is better to buy a cheap, but proven car than an expensive one. Having a test drive allows you to test the car, which increases the likelihood of buying a car of a more expensive brand.

Answers (3)

Taking a free test drive or test drive at a car dealership is very easy and simple, but for this it is important to meet a couple of conditions:

1) you must be over 18 years old and, of course, you must have a driver’s license of the appropriate category, for example B or C - depending on what car you want to drive

2) Usually, official dealers of the manufacturer have the opportunity to conduct free test drives. Which have test cars in their fleet. It is not always possible to pass the test at gray dealers.

Subject to these conditions, you can take a test drive in the following ways.

1) Call your nearest dealer and make an appointment by phone at a time convenient for you. Manager or administrator - must sign you up. You can easily find out the address and telephone number of the salon on the official website of a particular manufacturer.

2) Instead of calling, you can come to the dealer’s showroom without an appointment, if the managers are free and test cars are available, ask if you can take a test drive. Usually, within a few minutes, after signing special documents, you can already get behind the wheel of a car.

Here are basically two easy and simple ways to sign up for a test drive. Yes, and remember, all this should be free. After all, in essence, by giving this opportunity to people, the salon advertises its product well, after which you or someone else can easily buy the model.

After recording, the manager will definitely ask you to sign the necessary papers stating your responsibility for the safety of the property, that is, the car. After all, the salon is taking a risk by putting its car in your hands. For example, you can steal it, or break it on purpose - there are all sorts of people. Of course, the car is insured in all possible ways, but the interior still insures itself. In addition, by signing the papers, you are included in the statistics - who took a test drive of this particular car. Next, your manager may call you and ask whether you have decided to buy or not)

How long can a test drive last?

Much depends on you, but in general, the dealer has an average time scheduled for a test drive, usually no more than 20 minutes. But if the manager sees that you are really interested, and you are also testing the car for different capabilities, then the test can last an hour or more.

How is a test drive carried out at car dealerships?

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The whole truth about test driving a car at a car dealership

Quite often in advertisements the phrase is heard: “Take a test drive of the car at an official dealer” or “Only until December 32, everyone who passes the test drive will receive a discount when buying a car!”
Car dealerships do not skimp on invitations, just to lure the client into the experienced clutches of managers. But is everything so rosy? How realistic is a car test drive? Is it really possible for anyone with a driver's license to take the car for a spin? This is interesting: Test drive Kia Sportage

Theoretically, every potential buyer with a category B driver's license (in a sober state) can get behind the wheel of a “test drive” model. In this case, it is enough to make an appointment by phone and arrive at the dealership on time. All costs for gasoline, insurance, and compensation for damages in the event of a breakdown are borne by the official dealer. However, in life everything happens differently.

The administrator will definitely evaluate the client’s appearance, his potential solvency, as well as his ardent desire to purchase just such a car in the future. Some dealers even require money for a test drive.

As a rule, car dealerships do not actively advertise or advertise the fact that you can take a test drive from them. This is done in federal advertising of manufacturing plants and representative offices of a particular brand with the link: “Contact official dealers.” Dealers themselves often have a test drive - this is the last, powerful argument for a potential client in favor of a purchase. The buyer, once behind the wheel of the desired car, will not want to give it up.

Provincial dealers have the sin of being too picky about a client’s unpresentable appearance and may even refuse to provide a car for a test drive. For dealers, the visitor's clothing style and even the manner of speaking can be of significant importance. And the car will be given for a ride to someone who looks respectable and expensive. This is explained by the fact that regional dealers often allow new sales cars (in the absence of “test ones”), which are often not insured, to be driven around, and after the trip they are put back on display. And trusting an uninsured car even to your employees is somewhat dangerous. Remember: you shouldn't test drive a car that doesn't have insurance, even if you've almost bought it. Traveling to the nearest gas station can cost a fortune in the event of a serious accident.

Naturally, it is unlikely that if you walk into a car dealership from the street and point your finger at the first car, you will immediately get it to test drive. The manager is so trained that to begin with, he will draw up a portrait of you, ask your real intentions and assess the likelihood of a purchase. If you are not familiar with this model, in principle have no intention of ever buying it, but just want to test it on the road, do not be surprised when you are gently sent on your way. Therefore, if you are determined to “get to know” the car better, make it clear to the manager that you are very interested in the purchase, ask a lot of questions, and express your willingness to make an advance payment.

Test driving SUVs is a special topic. Every future owner of this car wants to test it in real off-road conditions. Only some dealers have special areas for test drives directly next to the car dealership. Only a few people allow their clients to test a jeep in the field; usually these are car dealerships with good support from the manufacturer. But official dealers often conduct on-site weekend test drives, which are quite accessible to everyone who is curious. And multi-brand showrooms even offer test promotions for several cars at once in one place.

Very rarely and exclusively VIP clients are given an exclusive opportunity: a long test drive, that is, the car is transferred to the client’s use for a period of 3-7 days. Of course, this offer is only for regular customers of the car dealership who choose expensive luxury models.

In most car dealerships, test cars are either not very actively ordered by management, or are provided by the manufacturer in insufficient quantities. If the car dealership is small, then the “test” car is not used at all for its intended purpose: it is given to accountants and employees to resolve work issues, it is handed over to friends of the management, and the management itself uses it exclusively for personal purposes. A mandatory test drive is not even announced, and the car itself exists as a “break-in” vehicle only on paper.

Remember, test driving a car is a free service. All major manufacturers oblige their official dealers to have and provide customers with the entire test line of models. In case of refusal to test drive, lack of the desired car in the showroom or other injustices against the client, immediately complain to the representative office by calling the hotline or through the official website.

Editorial office of Vashashina.ru Publication date: 07/14/2011

Features of cars for test drive

Most often, car dealerships offer cars for test drives in the highest possible configuration, with all possible factory additional equipment . In addition, the car is often also equipped with additional options in the interior (for example, tinting).

There are no cars in entry-level configurations for test drives.

Please note that if the car you have chosen comes in different body types (for example, a sedan and a hatchback), then only one can be offered for a test drive.

For example, if you are planning to purchase a car with a manual transmission and a hatchback, then it is quite possible that for a test drive there will only be a sedan with a manual transmission or a hatchback with an automatic transmission. In general, it is impossible to predict in advance whether a particular car will be available for a test drive. Call and check.

If the city is large and there are many car dealerships, then most likely you will be able to find a more or less suitable configuration for the test. If the city is small, then the selected model may not be available for a test drive at all.

Cars on test drives usually work for no more than a year, driving up to 5,000 kilometers.

Rules for a test drive at a dealer

Today, almost car dealers offer the test drive service to their clients, and any self-respecting dealership has a whole fleet of cars designed specifically for free test drives. Many car enthusiasts know that they have the right to take a test drive, but have little idea what it should be like. Is it possible to be content with a ride around the interior courtyard or should you demand a full ride in city traffic? Is there a dress code for taking a test drive and who will be responsible for an accident?

It's simple! As a rule, information about the opportunity to take a test drive is reflected on the websites of car dealerships. Sometimes a potential buyer needs to schedule a test drive in advance. You can also try at random - just go into the showroom and find out if the cars you are interested in are available. Pre-registration for a test drive often happens only when new models arrive - in this case, the salon forms a queue of people who want to ride it. Dealers recommend choosing days and times that are freer in terms of traffic for a test drive.

For example, it is better not to go for a test drive in the morning or evening on weekdays due to the risk of getting stuck in traffic. In this case, you won’t be able to find out anything about the dynamics of the car. The best option is during the day on weekdays or on weekends. The duration of the test drive, as a rule, is not limited and depends on the will of the salon and the mood of the manager who will go along with the driver. But, often, when it comes to purchasing a luxury car, the potential buyer is allowed more. He may even be given a car for a personal test drive without the accompaniment of a manager.

Naturally, you should have a valid driver's license with you, have at least two years of driving experience and be in a sober state. In addition, according to the rules, you must provide a passport to take a test drive. The driver must be 21 years of age at the time of the test drive.

The first question that worries almost every potential buyer is: what will happen to me if I scratch or otherwise damage the car during a test drive? The answer inspires optimism - nothing!

This is interesting: Kia Soul test drive video

The fact is that dealers are allowed to offer only fully insured cars for test drives, and against any damage, including natural disasters. So you shouldn’t be too afraid, although driving without looking back is also not recommended. The car is insured, but the driver who violated the traffic rules will be held accountable for his violations to the fullest extent.

If suddenly in the salon before the test drive they offer to sign a document in which the driver undertakes to financially compensate for all possible damages, then this should not be done. Also, you should not agree to a test drive in which the salon manager will be driving - such “offers” also have a place.

In the vast majority of cases, the dealer has a test drive route agreed with the traffic police, which the car owner will follow. The route should not be too short and should run in a straight line all the time. The driver has every right to check the future car for acceleration and braking, handbrake operation, turns, maneuverability, etc. It hardly makes sense to pass traffic police at a speed of 80 km/h, but you shouldn’t completely shy away from potholes and bumps.

Test drives can be short and daily. In the first case, a potential buyer goes out with a manager and rides for an average of 10 to 40 minutes. In the second, the car is provided to the car owner for a period of one day - more than enough to evaluate all its driving qualities.

If absolutely everyone is allowed for short test drives, then a daily test drive is available, as a rule, only to regular customers of the salon who have proven their loyalty and high purchasing power. Executive class cars are often given out for daily test drives.

Just a few years ago, only people who met a certain dress code could get into an expensive foreign car for a test drive. Today, only a teenager or a chronic alcoholic will not be allowed to drive. The owners of car dealerships are convinced that wealthy people in Russia do not always flaunt expensive suits. As an anecdote, sales managers retell stories about customers in shorts and flip-flops, about old men with country backpacks, who immediately after a test drive took out wads of cash and paid for the luxury SUV they liked.

The test drive mode does not relieve the driver of the risk of running into a fine in case of violation of the Traffic Rules. Among other popular stories that are told in salons, there are many in which drivers’ licenses were taken away for violating traffic rules. And in one case, the driver of the test car even started a race with the traffic police and only thanks to the persistent demands of the manager did he stop. It turned out that he had a fake license, and the “racer” was taken to the police station straight from the test drive.

A test drive allows a potential buyer to evaluate the advantages or disadvantages of their future car. Dealers may make their own additions to the rules of this procedure, so it makes sense to find out about them in advance. In general, the larger the company, the more often it meets customers halfway. And if some basic points of the rules, such as age or the presence of a driver’s license, cannot be changed, then, as a rule, the duration of the test drive, speed or route of the trip can be agreed upon with the manager.

How to test drive a used car?

Test driving a car is one of the most important and crucial stages in the process of buying a used car. And here you must always remember that if any aspect of such a test drive makes you feel uncomfortable, refuse to continue the test drive and leave. Trust your feelings. Preparation is key here—make sure you're up to speed on buying used cars before you take a test drive or buy a used car at all. Prepare for this at the beginning - do your homework, so to speak: study the used car market; compare which models sell better and which sell worse; What model years of the model you are interested in should you expect, taking into account how much money you have saved up to buy a used car.

And most importantly, remember that a test drive is not the time to diagnose car problems, this is not your main goal during a test drive, and do not try to solve these problems during a test drive of a used car.

Just before the test drive

Leave the kids at home if you're going to test drive a used car. They will simply distract you very much, will not allow you to soberly and carefully assess the condition and quality of the car, and, in addition, they may make a negative impression on the seller, possibly of your future car.

Plan your test drive route in advance. Don't let the test drive be random for you and, moreover, don't let the current owner of the car create this route. Google Maps, Yandex Maps and other navigation applications can help you, which can help you create the correct test drive route based on the location, but it is better if it is a place that is familiar to you. While looking through these maps, study the entire grid of local streets, if the place is unfamiliar to you, find straight lines, preferably expressways and highways, where you can test the acceleration or deceleration of the car, as well as the performance of the steering, see how the car behaves at high speeds, current weather conditions and, in general, check the engine's torque and power. Also, prepare a notepad or voice recorder - they will help you remember what you focused on during the test drive, what you liked and what you didn’t.

If you know someone who is a little better than very good at using used cars, be sure to take them with you for a test drive. Just agree in advance with the seller that you will arrive with a friend, and also ask the seller to give you the opportunity not only to get behind the wheel yourself, but also to seat a more experienced friend. In general, agree in advance with the car seller how long you can test the car - in general, this time should be at least 20-30 minutes. It is unlikely that the owner will allow you to drive his car for more than 30 minutes, but this may be enough for you to appreciate the car entirely.

Inspecting a parked car

Walk around the car: look for large chips or cracks on the windshield, as well as the degree of wear of the body and the presence of open and obvious rust or “blooming” (slightly rusting) areas. But in any case, you will find at least a few chips and scratches on almost all used cars. However, the presence of many chips and scratches on the bottom of the car: on the front bumper, in particular, may indicate that the car was operated in less than ideal conditions - the driver is a sports enthusiast or the car was used on bad roads.

Open the trunk. Will it be able to satisfy your needs for storing your personal belongings? Just measure the volume and dimensions of the trunk of your former car in advance or find them out on the manufacturer’s website, and for a test drive, take a tape measure with you and measure the same dimensions of the car you are testing. From this it will be possible to conclude whether the capacity of such a trunk is suitable for you: whether your golf set or baby stroller will fit there. In addition, check whether the rear row of seats folds, or better yet, see for yourself by trying to fold it yourself.

Smell the car

No, this is not a joke! Remove the air freshener that is hanging on the rearview mirror or anywhere else in the car and remove it from inside the car. After you finish the test drive, find out what natural smell the car emits. Don't be afraid to poke your nose into places where an unpleasant musty smell may be coming from.

Before your test drive

Get in and out of the car several times. Feel how comfortable this process is for you and how well the doors open and close and close and how hard it is. Note how easy it is to reach the door handle. Then sit in the back seat/sofa and evaluate how much it will be possible to fit and sit comfortably for three large, tall people (although if it is a small car, then you should not count on more than two people).

Get a very good feel for the driver's seat. Determine exactly whether you can adjust the seat for a comfortable fit. This is exactly the case when you cannot compromise, since you will get a lot of pain by buying such a car - you will spend tens of thousands of kilometers behind the wheel, and nothing can be worse than the driving lifestyle in an uncomfortable seat.

Adjust the position of the steering wheel - keep in mind that in some cars (Lada Priora, some BMW and Mercedes models and others) the center of the steering wheel and the center of the driver's seat do not coincide with each other when looking along the car - this is a design feature of such models, however You may never get used to the new unusual position, especially if you are left-handed.

After this, carefully examine the performance of all electrical appliances, heaters, adjustments and everything else, as well as the air conditioner - make sure that cold air is blowing from it (if you are not doing a test drive in winter).

Shift and feel the gearbox: do the automatic transmission selectors and manual transmission gears shift easily and freely? Loud, heavy knocks don't mean there's a problem with the transmission per se, but chalk it up as a suspected costly repair - especially in the case of an automatic, so your mechanic will have to check it out. The clutch should also participate in gear shifting easily and naturally.

Turn the key to “On” mode and look at the test on the dashboard (when all kinds of indicators on it light up). Start the car and see if they all go out (the ABS indicator, if equipped, may remain on for a long time, and this does not mean a malfunction of the anti-lock system). Note for yourself how easily the car started and how long it took to turn the starter. Ask the seller about the availability of a second set of keys - remember that making them can be expensive, especially if we are talking about keyless entry.

During a test drive

Drive very responsibly and don't try to estimate the car's power from the very beginning. This way you will most likely scare the seller. However, feel free to do this once you feel comfortable and get a feel for the car. Just warn the owner what you will do now.

See how well the car performs on the highway:

how susceptible to rutting,
Is it easy to stay strictly in a straight line or do you have to constantly turn the steering wheel,
does the steering wheel pull to one side (during acceleration and braking),
does the steering wheel or the whole car vibrate at speed,
is there any play in the steering,
It would also be better to check the dynamics of the car under highway conditions.

Then drive through the local streets, and here's what you'll notice:

on visibility from the driver’s seat - do the A-pillars interfere with visibility and how large is the blind spot at the left pillar,
how big are the blind spots in the mirrors,
how the car behaves when simulating a “snake” drive - does it crunch or does anything in the suspension creak?
How quickly does the steering wheel react to sharp turns?

Be sure to check your brakes: find an area with little traffic, accelerate the car, look in your mirrors to make sure there are no other cars behind you, and brake sharply. Just, again, warn the seller and other passengers about this. Assess whether the car is pulling to the left or to the right. You should also feel the brake pedal firmly. The soft response of the brakes must be checked. ABS brakes will operate differently.

Look for an uneven surface - this could be a rough road or a section of road with speed bumps. See how the car reacts to impacts on the suspension. It shouldn’t bounce like jelly in a bowl, and the suspension shouldn’t “break through” from small potholes. But discuss in advance with the seller the possibility of such a check.

Keep your mouth shut: this is an old journalistic trick that also works with used car test drives. People hate silence. It makes them want to talk. You'll be surprised how often owners will start talking about problems with the vehicle during a test drive. For this purpose, also turn off the music completely.

Park your car. Look how easily he maneuvers.

After the test drive

If after a test drive of a used car you become even more interested in it - you liked everything about it, do not rush to buy it - ask the seller when you can show the car to your mechanic. Never buy a car that hasn't been inspected by an independent specialist - at the very least, buying a car without checking the thickness of the paint on its body is stupid. And by thoroughly checking a used car, you will protect yourself from headaches in the future.

If you have doubts about buying this used car, then do not rush to refuse outright - ask the seller to give him time to think, and during this time soberly assess the condition of the car and its price. Again, consult with specialists (but only with specialists - the adviser must be “in the know,” period!) to determine whether this is a reasonable price-condition ratio.

So, let's now briefly describe the whole essence of the above as a plan for conducting a test drive of a used car:

Before the test drive:

Have a notepad and pen ready.
Map out a route that mixes local streets, trails, and a large parking lot.
Leave your family at home.
Take a specialist with you if possible.
Please bring your own child seats and extras. equipment to see if they are suitable.
Discuss the duration of the test drive. Plan for at least 30 minutes.
Make sure that the car has a spare tire and the necessary tools: a jack and tires.
Walk around the car and inspect the body, tires, and plastics.
Look at the chips on the glass.
Inspect the trunk.
Remove air fresheners from the interior.
Feel how easy it is to get in and out of the car.
See how easy the doors open and close.
Check the steering wheel and seat adjustments to find a comfortable position.
Test all devices, all buttons and adjustments, check the air conditioning.
See how easily the car shifts between different gears or automatic transmission selectors.
Start the engine and look for any warning lights on the instrument panel and how hard and how long it takes to start the engine.
Make sure the owner has a spare set of keys.

During the test drive:

Make sure that the seller's MTPL insurance policy is unlimited, and that you have documents for the trip (registration certificate).
Drive smoothly and drive responsibly.
Mix your route between local streets and the highway.
Check the steering - is there any play, does the steering wheel pull to the side, does it vibrate at speeds.
Check your brakes on a deserted street.
Test the car on a bumpy surface and see how the car reacts.
Keep your mouth shut. Listen to car problems - let the car owner start the conversation.
Try parking the car and evaluate how well its dimensions are felt.

After the test drive:

If you are interested in purchasing, arrange to have the car inspected by a mechanic and bodybuilder.
Don't refuse right away - ask the seller to give you some time to think.

Organizational aspects

Before taking a test drive, be sure to check with the manager the following points:

• Documents for registration. Usually the client is asked to provide a driver's license and passport. • Route length. Car dealers with a high reputation will never offer you a tour of the car dealership. A full test drive should include a trip of at least 20 minutes. • Who is participating in the trip from the dealer. Often, not only the sales manager, but also a trainee or even a security guard takes part in a test drive. If you plan to ride with the whole family, this can make things difficult. • Optimal time. If the salon is located near major highways, a test drive in the evening will only result in waiting in traffic jams, and not getting to know the car’s capabilities. • Available modifications. If you are interested in buying a car with an automatic transmission, you should not agree to travel in a car with a manual transmission, and the maximum configuration may differ greatly from the starting one, both in the number of options and in feel.

Filling out documents for a test drive

Before starting a test drive at any car dealership, you will be asked to fill out several documents and present your driver’s license.

I recommend that you read the documents carefully and do not sign them if you do not agree with something.

Please note that without signing the documents you will not be able to test the car. However, in some cases it makes sense to go to another salon and take a test drive there.

Let me emphasize once again that the documents even from dealers of the same brand are very different. If, for example, you do not like the clause about your responsibility in case of damage to the car, then another car dealership may not have it.