How to Test Drive a Used Car

Cars are better built today and lasting longer. A great way to save money is to buy a used car. Whether you buy from a private party or a dealer, you should test drive it under varying conditions. Dress casually so that you can crawl around the car. Plan to drive at least two cars of the same model so that you can fairly compare them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get an online map of the seller’s location so that you can scout the area. If you have a car, drive around and look for a variety of streets and driving conditions, including hills, bad roads and superhighways.
2. First inspect the car thoroughly. Look at the finish. Check that all the doors are aligned. Note any sign of recent body work, such as paint-over spray on bumpers or windows. Open and close the doors, hood and trunk to see whether they line up. Look for impact damage. Feel the hood of the car. If it is warm, it might have been warmed up to make it start more readily. Wait before cranking the ignition. Check the tires for uneven wear. Look below the car to see if there are any leaks. If the tires are new, they could have been replaced to mask a suspension or alignment problem. Get inside and conduct a visual inspection. Look at where the seats and dash are worn.
3. Start the engine. It should turn over readily. Look for tailpipe smoke on starting, it could be a sign of bad cylinder rings, a major repair. Turn off the radio so you can hear any problems. If the owner or salesman starts talking, politely request quiet.
4. Shift into all the gears, from drive to reverse to low. The gears should shift smoothly without any jolts. If you are test driving a stick shift, the clutch should engage smoothly and consistently. If you haven’t driven a manual transmission in a while, practice from a stop on level ground before venturing into traffic.
5. Note whether the car smoothly accelerates. On a straight level road, lightly grasp the steering wheel to see if it pulls to one side. If it does, it could indicate more than a problem alignment. It could be impact damage. Going 30 mph or so, step on the brakes and note whether the car pulls to one side or stops smoothly. Pulling could mean a bad caliper. Listen for any grinding when you step on the brakes and note if the brake pedal sinks to the floor a sign of a bad master cylinder. Try it again from 50 mph and make a sudden stop. Make sure the brakes work as they should. Test whether the emergency brake stops the car.
6. Take the car on a rough road, paying attention any noise it makes. Note whether the suspension does its job. Take the vehicle on a curving road to check its handling. Finally take the car on a freeway or expressway to see how it performs at cruising speed. If the owner objects to your driving on the superhighway, don't buy the vehicle.
7. If you are buying a convertible, repeatedly lower and raise the roof to test whether it fits tightly. Check for obvious holes. Drive it through a car wash to find any leaks.
8. When you get back to the seller’s location, don’t turn the car off. Pop the hood and check for smoke and leaks. Test the air conditioning in the front and back, the heating through all vents, windshield wipers, lights, rear window defroster, the windows and the vents. Bounce each corner of the car to verify how good the shocks and struts are. End your review by checking the sound system or rear-seat DVD player.

Tips & Warnings

• If the car passes your inspection, arrange to have a AAA-certified mechanic conduct comprehensive inspection. If you are buying from a AAA-certified dealer, have it inspected elsewhere.
• If you buy a used car and encounter any problems during the warranty period, have an outside mechanic diagnose the issue. Then bring it to the dealer for a repair. Make sure that your problems are thoroughly documented accurately on the dated repair slip to prove that they occurred within the warranty period.
• Resist presure and temptation. Do not buy the first car you test drive. Make at least one comparison.