How to Inspect a Used Car During a Test Drive

A test drive is where you learn how a used car really behaves, and it is the part of buying that people most often rush. Twenty relaxed minutes with your eyes, ears and hands open will tell you things no photo or listing can. This guide gives you a plan: what to check before you move, what to feel for while driving, which roads to use in Kolkata, and what to do afterwards. Combine it with our 25-point inspection checklist and the interactive checklist tool.

Before you drive

• Insurance. Make sure the car is insured and that you are allowed to drive it. Ask the seller to confirm that you are covered. Carry your driving licence.
• Cold engine. Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. Touch the bonnet: it should be cool.
• Bring a helper. A second person can listen and watch while you drive.
• Plan the route. Agree a route that includes a mix of roads, and tell the seller how long you will take. Keep the drive to a sensible distance.
• Take your phone. Use the voice recorder to catch noises you can describe to a mechanic later.

Starting the engine

1. Turn the key to "on" without starting. All the dashboard warning lights should come on briefly. Watch for any that stay on or never light.
2. Start the engine. It should start within a few seconds and settle to a steady idle. Rough starting, a long crank, a rattle or a puff of smoke deserve a question.
3. Check the warning lights again. The engine, ABS, airbag, battery and oil lights should all go out after the engine is running. A light that stays on means a fault.
4. Listen at idle. Knocking, ticking, whining or a rough, hunting idle can point to engine or accessory problems.
5. Switch on the AC. It should start blowing cold soon and the engine should not struggle or stall.

Steering

• Straight line. On a flat, quiet stretch, drive straight with a light touch. The car should track straight without pulling to one side.
• Play. The steering should respond promptly, with little free movement before the car turns.
• Full lock. At a car park speed, turn the wheel fully each way and listen for clicking, grinding or groaning.
• Wheel position. If the steering wheel is off-centre when the car goes straight, the alignment may be out or there may be bent parts.

Brakes

• First, a gentle stop. The pedal should feel firm and the car should slow in a straight line.
• Then a firm stop when it is safe and there is nobody behind you. A pulling to one side, a pulsing through the pedal, squealing or grinding means work is needed.
• Handbrake. On a slight slope, it should hold the car firmly without needing to be pulled very high.

Gearbox and clutch

Manual

• The clutch should bite at a sensible point in the pedal travel. A very high bite point or revs that rise without speed (slipping) suggest a worn clutch.
• Every gear should engage without crunching, and reverse should go in smoothly.
• Try an uphill pull-away from a standstill.

Automatic

• Shifts should be smooth, with no harsh jolts or long delays between pulling away and the car moving.
• Revs should not flare between gears. Check reverse and drive from a standstill.
• Ask about the service history of the gearbox: automatics can be expensive to repair.

Suspension and ride

• Speed breakers and potholes. Drive over a few at a low speed. Listen for knocks, clunks and rattles. The car should settle quickly, not bounce.
• Body roll and sway. On a bend, the car should feel stable, not floaty.
• Uneven tyre wear and vibration. A vibration through the steering wheel at certain speeds can mean wheel balance or tyre problems.

Noises and smells

Air-conditioning and electrics

Run the AC for several minutes at its coldest setting and check that the cabin cools and the blower works on every speed. Operate the windows, central locking, wipers, indicators, headlights and horn. Check the reversing sensors or camera if fitted, and the music system.

A road-test plan for Kolkata

Use a route that gives you:

1. Slow, crowded traffic (to test the clutch, the brakes and how the engine copes when it gets hot).
2. Tight turns and a U-turn (to listen to the steering and check the turning circle for your parking).
3. A few speed breakers and rough patches (suspension).
4. A stretch where you can reach steady speed, if there is one nearby (to check straight-line stability, wind noise and gearbox behaviour).
5. A hill or ramp, such as a flyover ascent, for the pull and the handbrake.

Try parking the car in a tight spot, reversing, and look at the visibility from the driver's seat.

After the drive, park, leave the engine running for a minute, then switch it off and look under the car for fresh drips. Open the bonnet again: check for steam, a burning smell or any new leaks, and check the coolant level.

Warning signs to stop and walk away

• Warning lights that stay on, or bulbs that appear to have been removed.
• Heavy smoke from the exhaust, or overheating.
• The car pulls hard to one side, or the steering feels loose.
• The brake pedal sinks or grinds.
• The seller refuses a longer drive, a mechanic's check or an inspection.

After the drive

• Write down what you noticed immediately: faults, noises and questions.
• Use the faults to negotiate, or to ask for a professional inspection before you go further.
• Do not decide on the spot. Sleep on it, then check the papers (see our guide to documents).

For the full process, read the complete buyer's guide, and browse used cars in Kolkata when you are ready to shortlist.