Used car test drive checklist
A test drive is your best chance to find problems before they're yours. Plan on at least 20 to 30 minutes, bring your driver's license and proof of insurance, and ask the seller not to warm the car up before you arrive.
Before you drive
- Start it cold. Listen for rattles, knocks or a slow start. Watch the exhaust: blue smoke can mean burning oil, and thick white smoke that doesn't clear can mean a coolant leak.
- Walk around it. Look for uneven gaps between panels and paint that doesn't quite match, which are signs of a past repair.
- Check the tires. Look at the tread depth, and wear that's uneven from side to side (often an alignment problem). The four-digit date code on the sidewall (for example 2321 = week 23 of 2021) tells you the tire's age; tires older than about six years may need replacing soon.
- Look underneath and under the hood for fresh leaks, and check that every light works.
On the road
- Mix the driving: slow neighborhood streets, a rough patch of road, and a stretch at highway speed.
- Brakes: the car should stop straight, without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- Steering: on a straight road with your hands light on the wheel, the car shouldn't drift to one side.
- Transmission: shifts should be smooth, without slipping, delays or clunks.
- Air conditioning: run it on high. In a Texas summer, weak A/C is an expensive surprise.
- Listen with the radio off for humming, whining or clunks over bumps.
After the drive
- Make sure no warning lights came on, and that none are hidden (all should light up briefly when the car starts).
- Look under the car again for new drips, and notice any burning smell.
- Try every window, lock, seat, the infotainment and the backup camera.
If anything feels off, write it down and ask about it, then have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you buy. Our guide on checking a car's history by VIN covers the paperwork side.
This guide is general information to help you shop, not legal or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so check the official source linked above before you rely on them.