How to Test Drive a Used Car the Right Way

A good used car test drive starts with a cold engine and covers city streets, the highway, hard braking and tight turns, with the radio off so you can listen.

Ask for a Cold Start

Many problems are loudest in the first minute. Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. When you get there, touch the hood. It should be cool.

Turn the key to on without starting the engine. The warning lights on the dash should all light up briefly. Then start it. Listen for a slow crank, a knock or a rattle. Look behind the car for smoke. A puff of white vapor on a cold day is normal. Blue smoke or thick white smoke that does not clear is not.

Once the engine runs, every warning light should go off. A check engine light that stays on is a problem. One that never came on at all may have been disabled.

Plan a Real Route

A lap around the block tells you almost nothing. Ask for a drive of at least 20 minutes if you can. Try to include these.

• Slow city streets with stops and starts.
• A highway or fast road where you can reach normal cruising speed.
• A rough road or some bumps.
• A hill, if there is one nearby.
• An empty lot for tight turns and parking.

If the seller will only let you drive a short loop, ask why. Good sellers expect a real drive.

How the Car Should Drive

Pull away gently, then with more throttle. The engine should pick up smoothly without stumbling. An automatic should shift without slipping, hard bangs or long pauses. A manual should not grind or slip.

On the highway, hold a steady speed. The steering wheel should stay centered and still. A shake at speed can come from tires, wheels, or worn parts. On a straight, flat road, loosen your grip for a second. The car should not pull hard to one side.

Go over a few bumps. Listen for clunks. The car should settle quickly, not bounce.

Test the Brakes and Steering

In a safe place with no one behind you, brake firmly from a moderate speed. The car should stop straight. The pedal should feel firm, not soft or sinking. Grinding, squealing or a pulsing pedal all point to brake work.

In the empty lot, turn the wheel all the way each way and drive slowly in a circle. Clicking or popping during tight turns can point to worn axle joints. Groans or whines when you turn the wheel can point to a steering issue.

Listen and Look While You Drive

Keep the radio off and the windows up for part of the drive. Then roll them down for a bit. A hum that grows with speed can be a wheel bearing or a tire. A whine that changes with engine speed can come from something under the hood.

Watch the temperature gauge. It should rise to the normal range and stay there. Try the heat and the air conditioning. Check the cruise control, the turn signals and the wipers.

After the drive, leave the engine running and look under the car for fresh drips. Then pop the hood and smell for burning oil or coolant.

Take Notes Right Away

It is easy to forget small things once you are back at the lot and talking price. Park, turn the car off, and write down what you noticed before you get out. Note any noise, when it happened, and at what speed.

Then restart the car one more time. A car that started fine cold should start fine warm too. A hard start when hot can point to a problem worth checking.

If you are comparing two or three cars, drive them the same day on the same route if you can. Differences stand out much more that way.

Where the Test Drive Fits

A test drive is one step, not the whole check. Do your own look first with our guide on how to inspect a used car. Then read the car's paper trail with our guide on vehicle history reports.

If you are driving at a dealer, look up how past buyers rated the lot in our dealer directory first.

A Second Opinion on the Road

You will notice a lot on a test drive, but a mechanic hears things differently. Our used car inspection includes a road test along with 122 points, a full OBD-II scan with readiness monitors, and tire and brake measurements, with photos of anything we find. We go to the car and you get the report the same day.

Common Questions

Get the Car Inspected