HOW TO TEST DRIVE A USED CAR BEFORE BUYING IT? -

In this article, we’ll give a couple of recommendations for how to test-drive a used car before buying it.

Test driving is necessary to see if you like how the car drives and handles and, more importantly, to spot any problems with it.

It is good and in fact necessary to do this to avoid buying a lemon and having future costly problems.

Hopefully, this article will help with that.

Besides this website, you can also watch videos on our YouTube channel, where we have many car-related videos that may help with maintenance, driving, etc.

Before we start, just a couple of recommendations:

Do not test drive the car unless you’re seriously thinking about buying the car. Taking other people’s property for a joyride will be seen as frivolous and child’s play.
When test-driving, drive the car as if it were yours. Lots of people, out of courtesy and politeness, drive very carefully, which will not help in spotting any problems; on the contrary

This is a tough one, but try to find two kinds of roads when testing the car: a highway where you can drive faster and a local road, possibly a secluded one. We’ll explain why this is important later in the article.
Monitor the dashboard for any warning lights appearing, especially monitor the coolant temperature and, if possible, the oil temperature. Any anomalies are a bad sign, and you should at least ask the owner about them.

If you want to learn more about how to check a used car before buying, click here.

HOW TO TEST DRIVE A CAR BEFORE BUYING IT?

1. REV UP THE ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIMES

Before hitting the road, start the engine, let it heat up a bit, and rev the engine up a couple of times while the car is parked.

During this, listen to the engine for any knocks, ticking, grinding, or else. Also, take a look at the exhaust. If you see any white, blue, or black smoke coming from the exhaust, there may be a problem. Probably a big one.

If this checks out OK, you’re good to go.

2. DRIVE IN CIRCLES

Next, and this may sound funny when talking about how to test a used car, drive the car in circles a couple of times, both to the left and right.

This will expose any possible problems with the suspension system, steering system, and especially a bad CV joint.

Any screeching, thumping, grinding, or other noise is a problem.

3. DRIVE ON THE LOCAL OR SECLUDED ROAD

If, for instance, you’ve first chosen the local secluded road for a test drive, do this:

-Drive at a slower pace first; this will give you a good feeling of the car, and this way you’ll get a better overall impression. This is why a secluded road is better: you can focus on the experience and not on the traffic around you.

-Drive the car from side to side, not in a dangerous way, just give it a twitch from side to side. This is good to test the suspension. If it holds, then it’s OK, but if it swings like a boat from side to side, that’s a problem.

-If you find some gravel or even better a cobblestone road, this is great since it reveals any problem with suspension, if anything is loose, it will show there.

All in all, the secluded road will show you how the car behaves at lower speeds and on roads of lower quality.

4. HIT THE BRAKES A COUPLE OF TIMES

When talking about how to test a used car, the secluded road is also very good for testing the brakes.

Again, be sure to mind the safety aspect.

So, speed up a bit when you get the chance and hit the brakes, and do this at least three times.

If there are no sounds and the car stays straight on the road, it’s OK.

Any pulling to one side, grinding, screeching sound, or anything else is a problem.

5. DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY

After this, if possible, take the car out onto the highway or wherever you can drive faster. Of course, be safe and don’t exceed the speed limit.

Our recommendation is to at least drive a 100 km per hour (approx.60 miles per hour).

First, pay attention to how the car handles. If it pulls to one side, if the steering wheel shakes, if the engine sputters, or anything else beyond normal, don’t buy the car.

This is why highway driving is good when talking about how to test drive a used car.

Some problems only appear at higher speeds, otherwise, they remain hidden.

Also, you can see what the wind and sound insulation on the car are like at higher speeds.