Here’s what you’ll find in this complete guide:

• Insurance for test drives
• How to test drive a used car
• What to look for during your test drive
• Questions to ask during your test drive
• Test driving electric vehicles
• What to do after the test drive
• Other car test tips

Insurance for test drives

The first thing you should know before you test drive a car is that you’ll need valid insurance. It’s illegal to drive on British roads without it, even during a test drive.

If you’re test driving a car from a dealership, this shouldn’t be an issue as they often have insurance to cover you. However, you should still check with the dealer before you start the test drive.

If you’re buying from a private seller, you’ll need to make sure you have insurance. Check if your current policy includes driving other cars (DOC) cover.

If it doesn’t, you’ll need to take out temporary car insurance that can cover you for as little as an hour while you test-drive your potential new car.

For more information on insurance for a test drive take a look at our car insurance guide.

How to test drive a used car

You’ve got to the fun part of test driving a used car, getting behind the wheel and hitting the road to see how it feels. It can be an exhilarating and exciting experience.

But it’s also important to follow certain steps so that you’re not missing anything. Remember, you’re test driving your potential future car and it needs to tick all your boxes.

Get comfortable in the car

Adjust your seat and your headrest to the right height and distance from the steering wheel.

Adjust all the mirrors so you have a clear view of the road, and ensure the steering wheel is in a comfortable driving position. Is there enough headspace and leg room for you and the rest of the passengers?

Operate all controls

Play around with all the controls in the car.  Familiarise yourself with all the buttons and switches.

Turn on the radio, heater, air conditioning and sat nav if it’s got one to make sure they all work. Check the dashboard for warning lights. Ensure all gauges work.

Start with parking

Slowly drive the car around the car park first so you can figure out how well it performs at low speeds and with lots of manoeuvring.

This lets you get a feel for the car’s handling in a controlled environment with fewer distractions.

Drive on various types of roads

Test the car on different types of roads and speeds to evaluate the car’s performance. Pick a route that reflects the ones you usually do.

Try to drive on a mixture of stop-and-go traffic, motorways and country roads to get a fuller picture of what it’s like to drive the car.

Test more than one car

If you are buying your used car from a dealership, you may be able to test drive more than one car. You could try out different engine options, too.

It won’t hurt to keep your options open and can help you make a more informed decision.

Take your time deciding what car to buy

Don’t let anyone pressure you into buying a car. It’s a big commitment and you should feel confident in your choice.

Take your time, see how you feel and only buy when you’re ready.

What to look for during your test drive

To make the most of your test drive, there’s a checklist of things to look out for. Keep these in mind so you’ll be able to spot any potential issues right away.

Engine

The engine should be cold before starting the car, so feel the bonnet to ensure it’s not warm. If it is, the seller may have pre-started it to hide potential starting issues.

Once started, watch for any excessive smoke, as a healthy engine runs quietly and smoothly without unusual noises or smoke.

Suspension

You should check to see if the car drives smoothly on various road surfaces.

If you can hear rattling or odd noises, that could signal mechanical problems with the suspension system.

Bearings

Check the wheel alignment of the vehicle and when driving, check the car doesn’t pull to one side.

If it does, this could be a sign that there is an issue with the bearings, especially if you notice a loud noise coming from the wheels.

Clutch and gears

Are all the gears smooth? Are they crunching when you engage them? When does the clutch start ‘biting’?

If the clutch doesn’t engage until the pedal is nearly at the top, then that may be a sign the car will need a new clutch soon.

Acceleration

Does the car pick up speed smoothly and quickly? Is there any smoke or strange noises?

Pay attention to how the engine responds when you press the accelerator.

Steering

Steering should be responsive and have no vibration or ‘free play’.

The best way to check this is to test it at different speeds to ensure it feels stable, especially when going around corners.

Brakes

Brakes should respond quickly and stop the car in a straight line. Are there any noises? If there is, it could indicate wear on the brakes and that they need to be changed.

Air conditioning

Check the air conditioning to see if it actually blows cold air through the vents. Ensure the fan is powerful enough, the vents provide sufficient airflow, and the controls are easy to use.

Additional features

If the car has features like a navigation system or a rear view camera, try them. Are they easy to use? Do they work as expected?

Manoeuvrability

How easy is the car to manoeuvre? Test its performance on curves, tight turns, and parking.

Does it accelerate well? How easy is it to park? Can you do a three-point turn in limited-space situations? Does the front end scrape on parking curbs?

Questions to ask during your test drive

Whether you’re test driving a car from a dealership or a private seller, it’s important to ask the right questions to help you in making your informed decision about the vehicle.

Ask for a demonstration on features

Just before you set off, ask the sales advisor to walk you through the key features of the car, including any tech or functions you’re not familiar with.

This will help make sure you feel confident and comfortable using them when driving the car.

Service history

When test-driving a used car, make sure to ask for the number of previous owners, the service history and if any major repairs have been done.

You can request to see any relevant documents which could reveal the car’s past maintenance.

At MOTORS, we we work with our automotive data provider to provide a history check of vehicles on our site.

This is for guidance only, so we still suggest getting all details from the buyer.

Ask for a review of the deal

After the test drive, ask the seller to go over the details of the deal and ensure you have all the information you need.

If you’re potentially purchasing from a car dealership, this is the time to ask about warranties, financing options or any extras that come with the car.

Test-driving electric vehicles

If you’re test driving a used electric car, there’s usually less to check since their motors have fewer parts compared to petrol or diesel cars.

However, you’ll still need to check certain elements like the interior, exterior, steering, and brakes as well as all the documents—just as you would with any car.

One key consideration if you’re test driving an electric car is the battery life, as they can be an expensive part to replace.

It’s worth asking about the battery’s condition and if it has a battery warranty. Some may have a lease on it which would incur additional costs, although that is a lot less common nowadays.

And on top of that, you should also ask and check their range and charging time. You need to make sure both range and charging time suit your lifestyle.

It would be smart to check what the original advertised range and charging time was and then compare that to the actual figures you’re getting to see how well the car has been looked after.

Take a look at our electric car buying guide for more advice.

What to do after the test drive

Once you’ve finished test-driving the car there are a few important steps you should do before committing to buying it, even if you really liked it.

Test drive other cars

If you’re buying a used car from a dealership it is a good idea to test drive at least one other car to see how they compare.

Keep your options open and don’t necessarily buy the first car you find. It’s a big commitment and unless you fall in love with the car it won’t hurt testing another one.

Create a pros and cons list

Write down the pros and cons of the car you test-drove to see if the pros outweigh the cons and if it’s the right car for you.

If you’re not 100% sure about your decision, you may even want to take the car on a second test drive.

Research market value

Even if you researched the car’s market value before your test drive, seeing it in person can give you a different perspective than just viewing it online.

After the test drive, check the current market value of the car you tested to make sure you’re getting a fair price.

If you think you could negotiate a better price, consider offering the private seller or dealership a lower offer.

If the price doesn’t align with your expectations, then begin looking for other options.

Other car test drive tips

On top of all the safety checks and mechanical checks, there are other things you should consider before buying a used car. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you make your decision.

Still unsure? Our handy buying a used car guide will help you in making your final decision.

FAQs