How to Test Drive Your New Car

​Having a new car can be a new milestone in your life. You can now go to places you want to go with ease and comfort, without the hassle of public transportation. At the same time, having a new car means you have to get one through a dealer and after many tedious negotiations, you need to have a test drive.

Do a Pre-Test Car Check
Before starting your engine, do a series of tests to the car the same way you check your own vehicle before your daily commute. Here are the parts to check before leaving:

1. Tire Condition
2. Fluid Leaks
3. Signs of Repair or Dents

This is only somewhat applicable to brand new cars, yet for your own safety and an extra measure of quality, try not to skip on it. If there are issues within those three, consult your sales representative.

Inspect the Interior
Get inside the car but do not start the engine yet. Check if you can sit comfortably within the driver’s seat. Make sure that there is minimal stress on your back and there is plenty of legroom. It is important if you can properly grip the steering wheel and hitting the brakes.

You must also sit down on all of the car’s passenger seat and gauge your experience. Tune the radio and check if there are any weird noises from the speaker. Keep the radio on and sit on each passenger seat to check the speaker’s fidelity. Do the same process for the air conditioning unit. Change its temperature and determine if you can feel any difference between the changes. 

Lastly, check the doors, door locks, windows, hood, hatch (if applicable), trunk, and fuel door. Check if there are no difficulties in opening or closing them

Test Drive Proper
In this stage, you need to actually drive the car. Usually, there is a predetermined route for you to follow and your sales representative will be along with you on your drive. Here is a step by step process from start to finish:

1. Start the engine. Listen carefully to see if there are any weird noises from the engine. As you carefully check the sound, check the wipers, wiper fluid, signal lights, and brake lights before leaving.
   
   
2. As you start your drive, try to accelerate at different intervals. Go slow, then go fast. Check if there are any suspicious noises while doing so. Also, check if there’s too much smoke being emitted.
   
   
3. Evaluate the handling and suspension. If allowed, try to drive in a parking lot. Check whether you feel any vibrations or uneasiness when doing a turn. Check the brakes as well by doing a full stop.
   
   
4. Feel the shifting of the gears when you change speeds. Cars nowadays accelerate quietly and changing gears cannot almost be felt. Constantly check the engine temperature as you drive faster. Also, check the brakes when you are in cruise control mode.

Conclusion
Getting a new car is rewarding due to the financial costs and hassle to get one. That is why it would be bothersome if said car breaks down from time to time. If you follow the steps above, you can rest your worries away.

At Priority Insurance LLC, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get the insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (864) 297-9744. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.