Buying A Car - Checks on the Test Drive
When you are looking to buy a car and have completed all your initial external, internal and engine checks discussed in the three previous articles in this series you are ready for the test drive. If all the checks have been completed to your satisfaction then you should test drive the car before parting with your cash. There are some more checks that can be carried out on the test drive to show any faults that the vehicle may have, these will be discussed in more detail below.
Firstly you should be sure that your current car insurance covers you to drive the car in the event of an accident. If you are not covered to drive the vehicle then have somebody accompany you whose car insurance premium does cover them for the car.
Starting the Car - When sitting in the drivers seat make sure that all your mirrors are adjusted and you are in a comfortable driving position before starting the car. Try and start the car from cold to show up any starting problems, this can be easily organised with the owner. When starting the car watch you rear view mirror very carefully for any black smoke that may be discharged from the exhaust as this can indicate engine problems. If possible have a friend stand behind the car to look for any unwanted exhaust discharge as it can be hard to see in your mirrors.
Warning Lights - Before moving off check that all the warning lights on the dash board have gone out. Especially check for lights that might make the car unsafe to dive such as brake warning lights and faulty airbag lights. Also check that the warning lights come on before the engine is started as some more shady dealers will remove the bulbs for faulty parts to sell the car.
Steering - Whilst on the test drive you should have a good look at the steering which should hold a straight line without you fighting it. If it pulls to one side or another then this can be a bad sign. If the steering is power assisted then make sure that it works properly and isn't noisy as this can show signs of service neglect or problems.
Brakes - During the test drive be sure to test the brakes, the easiest way to do this is drive down a quiet road and accelerate to 30mph. Check that there is no traffic behind or in front, if its clear then apply firm pressure to the brakes. Make sure that when testing the brakes there is no grinding noise, which could indicate that the brake pads and discs need replacing. Also check that the car brakes in a straight line if it veers to one side or another there may be a problem with the brakes. If the car is ABS enabled check it by braking hard, if the car skids the ABS is faulty and this can be a costly repair.
Gears - Whilst on the road check that all the gears go into place in a smooth fashion, also listen for grinding as this could show up problems with the gear box that could be costly to fix. Check that all the gears work including reverse, most people forget to check reverse whilst on a test drive. Make sure that the car accelerates through each gear as it should because if it doesn't this could again be a sign of problems.
Suspension - On the test drive feel the ride of the vehicle, check for any out of place sounds when passing over bumps as this could mean there is a problem with the suspension. Make sure that the suspension is doing its job, if the car is bouncing over bumps then talk to the owner as this could show that the suspension is faulty. Remember that upgraded after market performance car suspension is a modification and can effect your car insurance premium.
Dials - Check that all the dials are working properly especially the speed-o-meter. Also make sure that the petrol gauge moves when you turn on the engine and that the temperature meter moves on the test drive. If the temperature gauge doesn't work it could mean that the car has an overheating problem that you will be unaware of. Have a look to make sure that the mile counter is working as some sellers will turn back the mileage on the car to make it more attractive to buyers, this can damage the counter and checking it can pick this up. Another good trick is to check the mileage against old MOT certificates.
Final checks - Once you have finished the test drive and you are happy with the vehicle take your time to just have a final look over the car before striking a deal. Most important is to repeat some of the engine checks (explained in the previous article), be sure to check for leaks from the bottom of the engine and make sure the fan in the engine bay engages when the engine is hot. Finally check all the documentation for the car before agreeing a price with the owner, be sure that all the numbers match up along with all the models details on the registration document.
If all the above checks are completed to your satisfaction make a deal with the owner, be sure that you get a receipt and don't drive the car away unless you have the car insurance to cover yourself. If you need car insurance cover on your new car log onto insure your motor or ring the sales team on 0800 091 1980 and see if we could save you money.
