Car buying · Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center · Elgin, IL
How to Test Drive a Used Car
A test drive is your best chance to find out how a used car really behaves before you buy it. This checklist covers what to do before you drive, what to watch for at start-up and on the road, and the steps the Federal Trade Commission recommends before you buy, starting with an independent inspection.
Beforeconfirm the car is there and read the Buyers Guide
Start-upwarning lights should come on, then go off
On the roaddrive the kinds of roads you use every day
Afterindependent mechanic inspection and a written report
The short answer
Before you drive, confirm the car is still available and read the Buyers Guide on the window. When you start it, watch the dashboard: warning lights should come on briefly as a bulb check and then go off. Drive it on roads like the ones you use every day, at city and highway speeds, and listen and feel for anything unusual. Before you buy, the FTC suggests paying an independent mechanic to inspect the car and give you a written report with repair estimates.
Before you drive
Call ahead or contact the dealer to confirm the car is actually on the lot; the FTC suggests doing this, and asking for the out-the-door price in writing, before you visit. Bring your driver's license and plan a route that includes the kinds of roads you drive most.
Read the Buyers Guide on the window. The FTC says dealers have to display one in every used car they offer for sale and give it to you after the sale. Our Buyers Guide explainer walks through what it shows. You can also check the car for open recalls and read its vehicle history report before the drive.
Buyers Guide, written out-the-door price and on-the-lot advice from the FTC's Buying a Used Car From a Dealer (FTC) page, read November 3, 2026.
At start-up: watch the warning lights
Ask to start the car yourself. Owner's manuals describe a bulb check: many warning lights come on briefly when the ignition is first turned on, then go out. The 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual, for example, says the check engine light (Malfunction Indicator Light) comes on when the ignition is in the ON/RUN position before engine start, and to have the condition checked promptly if it does not come on. It also says to have an authorized dealer service the air bag system immediately if the air bag warning light does not come on as a bulb check, stays on after you start the vehicle, or comes on as you drive.
If a warning light stays on, ask about it before you drive. Our guides to the check engine light and the tire pressure light explain what those two mean. Each vehicle's own owner's manual describes its warning lights.
Bulb check, check engine light and air bag light statements from the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Instrument Cluster; Warning Lights), read November 3, 2026, as an example; other vehicles differ.
On the road: what to check
Give yourself enough time to drive the car on more than one kind of road. As you drive, check:
- Steering: the car should track straight on a level road without constant correction, and the steering wheel should be centered.
- Brakes: stops should feel smooth and straight, without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal. See why a car shakes when braking.
- Acceleration and shifting: merge onto a faster road if you can and note any hesitation, slipping or harsh shifts.
- Noises and vibration: drive with the radio off and listen over bumps, in turns and at highway speed.
- Gauges: the temperature gauge should stay within its normal operating range.
- Comfort and features: adjust the seat and mirrors, and try the climate controls, lights, wipers, windows and infotainment.
Write down anything you notice so you can ask about it and show it to the mechanic who inspects the car.
The driving checks in this section are our own general guidance, not from a government source. The 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual is the source for the temperature gauge note; check your vehicle's own manual.
After the drive: inspection and paperwork
The FTC says it is always a good idea to pay for an independent mechanic to inspect a used car before you buy. You pay the inspection fee, but it can help you avoid paying for a car with major problems. Ask for a written report with a cost estimate for all necessary repairs, including the car's make, model and VIN; you can use those estimates to negotiate. If a dealer won't allow an independent inspection, the FTC suggests considering another dealer.
A vehicle history report is not a substitute for that inspection, the FTC notes: it may list accidents and flood damage, but typically not mechanical problems. If you negotiate changes to the warranty coverage, make sure they appear on the Buyers Guide as well as in your contract; the FTC says the Buyers Guide overrides anything in the sales contract.
From the FTC's Buying a Used Car From a Dealer (FTC) page, read November 3, 2026.
Used car test drive checklist
| When | Check |
|---|---|
| Before | Car confirmed on the lot; out-the-door price in writing; Buyers Guide read; open recalls checked |
| Start-up | Warning lights come on briefly and go off; no light stays on |
| Driving | Straight tracking, centered wheel, smooth brakes, smooth shifts, no new noises or vibration, temperature gauge normal |
| Features | Seats, mirrors, climate, lights, wipers, windows and infotainment work |
| After | Independent mechanic inspection with a written report and repair estimates; any warranty changes on the Buyers Guide |
On the lot, out-the-door price, Buyers Guide and the After row are from the FTC; Start-up is from the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual as an example; the recall check and the Driving and Features rows are our own general guidance.
Test drive a used car with us
Browse used inventory online, then contact us to confirm the car and set a time. Our guides on what to look for when buying a used car and how many miles is too many can help you narrow the list, and you can get a value for your current car with our trade-in form.
Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center is at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. Our sales department is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is closed Sunday. Contact us to set up a test drive, or get directions.
Used car test drive FAQ
How long should a used car test drive be?
Long enough to drive the kinds of roads you use every day, including a faster road if you can, so you can check steering, brakes, shifting and noise at different speeds. That is our own general guidance; there is no official minimum.
What should I look for on a test drive?
Warning lights that stay on after start-up, pulling or an off-center steering wheel, brakes that grind, pulse or pull, hesitation or harsh shifts, unusual noises or vibration, and a temperature gauge that goes above its normal operating range.
Should I get a used car inspected after the test drive?
Yes. The FTC says it is always a good idea to pay for an independent mechanic to inspect a used car before you buy, and to ask for a written report with repair cost estimates.
Is a vehicle history report enough?
No. The FTC says a vehicle history report is not a substitute for an independent inspection; it may list accidents and flood damage but typically not mechanical problems.
What is the Buyers Guide on a used car?
The FTC says dealers have to display a Buyers Guide in every used car they offer for sale and give it to buyers after the sale. Any changes you negotiate in the warranty coverage must appear on it. Our Buyers Guide explainer covers the rest.
What are your sales hours?
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are closed Sunday.
Ready to test drive?
Browse used inventory, then contact us to set up a time at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.
Sources
Buyers Guide, inspection and paperwork advice are from the FTC; warning-light behavior is from the 2026 Ram 1500 owner's manual as an example. Both were read on November 3, 2026. Driving checks are our own general guidance. Sales hours are from our website, checked the same day.
- Buying a Used Car From a Dealer (FTC), Federal Trade Commission
- 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Instrument Cluster, Warning Lights, Air Bag Warning Light), Stellantis / Mopar
- Home page: address and sales hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center