Before You Buy 10 Things to Check on a Test Drive

Illustration for this buying guide; not a specific vehicle offered for sale.

A quick loop around the block can tell you whether you like a car. A thoughtful test drive helps you decide whether you want to live with it. Before you head out from Plainwell, choose a safe route that resembles your normal driving and bring this checklist.

Leave the radio off for part of the drive, set your mirrors before moving, and save phone pairing and note-taking for when you are parked. Ask permission before changing the route. Never deliberately trigger emergency braking or other collision-avoidance features.

1. Start with the fit, not the touchscreen

Adjust the seat and steering wheel. Can you reach the pedals comfortably and see the instruments without stretching? Check headroom, the view over your shoulder and how easily you enter and exit. If other people regularly ride with you, try their seats too. A small annoyance in five minutes can become a daily frustration.

2. Walk around it in daylight

Look at the windshield, lights, body panels and visible tire surfaces. Note chips, dents, rust or uneven tire wear and ask about them. Open the doors, hood and cargo area with permission. Appearance alone cannot tell you the mechanical condition; use observations to build your question list, not to diagnose the car.

3. Ask about the start-up and warning lights

Ask whether the engine is already warm and whether a cold start can be arranged. Watch the instrument panel as the vehicle starts. Ask the salesperson to explain any warning or service message that remains. Do not dismiss a warning just because the car seems to drive normally.

4. Try the everyday controls while parked

Check windows, locks, mirrors, seat adjustments, lights and the features advertised on that specific vehicle. Try the camera and parking displays in a safe setting while also checking your surroundings directly. Pair your phone before driving, confirm calls and audio work, and remove your personal information afterward.

5. Check heat, air conditioning and defrost

Michigan weather makes these worth more than a passing glance. Try the fan speeds, temperature settings and front and rear defrost controls. Allow time for the system to respond. Ask about weak airflow, unusual odors or a system that does not deliver the expected temperature.

6. Feel how it accelerates and shifts

Use ordinary, gradual acceleration on an appropriate road. Notice hesitation, harsh engagement, vibration or unexpected noise. Different powertrains feel different: an automatic, a CVT, a hybrid and an electric vehicle will not behave identically. Ask for an explanation and have unresolved concerns evaluated rather than assuming they are normal.

7. Notice steering, braking and ride quality

Keep both hands ready on the wheel and brake normally with plenty of room. Does the vehicle feel predictable? Note pulling, vibration, clunks or grinding and where they occur. Do not test emergency stops in traffic or hit potholes on purpose. If something feels unsafe, stop safely and contact the dealership.

8. Include the roads you actually use

With the dealership's agreement, include neighborhood streets and a higher-speed road when conditions allow. A vehicle that feels quiet at 25 mph may feel different at highway speed. Listen with the radio off, then check whether conversation is comfortable. If the weather or traffic prevents a useful drive, ask about another time.

9. Park it and try your real-life cargo

Practice a normal parking maneuver in a safe, open space. Check sightlines and turning room. Bring a stroller, mobility aid, work bag or other everyday item if cargo fit matters. Fold the rear seats while parked. Families can ask to check child-seat fit using the vehicle and child-seat manufacturers' instructions.

10. Finish with questions, records and an inspection plan

Write down what you liked and what needs an answer before discussing the deal. Ask for available service records and a vehicle-history report. The FTC emphasizes that a history report does not replace an independent mechanical inspection. Ask to arrange an inspection by a mechanic you choose before buying. Check the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup and discuss any open recall and its repair status.

Review the Buyers Guide and written warranty or as-is information. Ask for an itemized out-the-door price and get any agreed repairs or promises in writing. A smooth test drive is useful evidence, but it is not a guarantee that a vehicle has no hidden problems.

Your quick take-along checklist

• Seat fit, visibility and passenger comfort

• Body, glass and visible tire condition

• Start-up and remaining warning messages

• Advertised equipment and phone connection

• Heat, A/C and defrost

• Acceleration and shifting

• Steering, brakes and ride

• City and higher-speed driving, where safe

• Parking and everyday cargo fit

• Unanswered questions, history, recalls and independent inspection

One useful habit: After each vehicle, rate comfort, visibility and ease of use from 1 to 5. Keep a separate list of concerns to resolve. Comparing notes is easier than remembering which car had the awkward seat or the better view.

Bring your questions to AutoWest

Shopping in Plainwell, Otsego or the surrounding West Michigan area? Tell us how you use your vehicle and which features matter most. Contact AutoWest of Plainwell at 269-685-9197, visit us at 1208 M-89, or browse our current inventory to plan a closer look.

Helpful resources: FTC: Buying a Used Car From a Dealer and NHTSA: Check for Recalls.