We bought a car last night! My husband has wanted this car for years. We just weren’t ready to purchase a car because our other cars were in good shape. We took the car for a test drive and hubby fell in love.

When you go to the dealership for a test drive, there are certain things to consider. Start by making an appointment. This can save you time.

Check the Car During the Light

When looking at the outside and inside of the car, you want to make sure you can see everything. If you are looking in the dark, you might miss scratches in the paint, chips in the windshield, tears in the seats or cracks in the dash. For people who consider these things important, it could be a deal breaker. Other things to check in the light is the color of the car. Make sure you like the color. If you don’t like the color, you are usually going to not want to drive your car, unless you want to invest in a paint job.

Checking out the inside

When you get into the car, make sure there is enough room. Do you fit comfortably behind the wheel? Do you have enough leg room? Does the car have enough space for everyone who will be riding in it? Does the car seats fit? Do the people in the backseat have enough leg room and space? Will the car fit in your parking space or garage? Can you get in and out of the car easily? Can you read the gauges easily? Are there blind spots with the mirrors?

The Test Drive

Start by talking with the salesperson. Sometimes the dealership has a predetermined route. These routes might not be the best way to test the car. You want to see how the car handles in the situations you drive in. Let the dealership know the situations you need to test.

Drive the car as you would normally drive. If you drive in hilly areas, you will want to see how the car climbs hills. If you spend a lot of time on highways, you will want to see how the car does in stop and go traffic and how it does driving high speeds. Check if the engine is loud or quiet? How do the brakes feel? Do they grab suddenly? How does the car ride comfortably or feel rough?

Technology

Try to pair your phone with the Bluetooth. Then try making a phone call. Check the backup camera? Can you see well? Does the car have a GPS built in? Does it work well? Try the steering control. Does the layout make sense while you are driving?

Take time to make your decision when buying a car. After the test drive, try other cars. Do you still love the first car? Give yourself time to consider your decision.