#UK BMW TEST DRIVE AGE PLUS#

Familiarise yourself with all the controls and try pairing your phone with the car before setting off.

Take any bulky items you regularly carry in your car to see how they fit in the new one.Understand any differences between the car you’re driving and the one you’re thinking about driving.Make sure you do your research and find out exactly which car you’ll be driving before getting behind the wheel.

#UK BMW TEST DRIVE AGE PLUS#

You need to make allowances here because you’ll be unfamiliar with the car but clear menus, logically placed buttons and easy-to-read graphics are all obvious plus points. It’s a good idea to try pairing your phone with the car to see how that works, if you regularly do this in your own vehicle. Adjust the mirrors and check to make sure you’ve got a good view to the front and the rear of the car.įamiliarise yourself with the important controls - lights, indicators, gearbox but also check how easy the minor controls are to locate and use. If you regularly carry bulky cargo like a pushchair or golf clubs, take it along and see how it fits in the boot.īefore the test drive, adjust the seat as you’d like it, checking that you’re comfortable and that there’s enough legroom left in the seat behind. Your car needs to be big enough to comfortably carry all the things and people you need it to. You’ll probably have already had a good poke around the car before taking a test drive but you should continue to evaluate questions around its size, how comfortable you feel in it and how easy it is to use before you get out on the road and worry about how it drives. Then compare this to the model you’re thinking of buying because it’s likely that the top-spec demonstrator will show the model in a better light than the version you can afford. Find out exactly which engine and trim level the car you’re driving is, if any options are fitted and what it costs. If you’re at a main dealer buying a new car, there’s a very good chance that the demonstrator won’t be the exact specification of car that you intend to buy.

Make the most of the time you have in the car to form your opinions and gather information.įirst things first, you need to be sure exactly which car it is you’re driving.

Even 7-day test drives are not unheard of. Some dealers offer special extended test drives of 24 or 48 hours from time to time.Your test drive is most likely to be between 15 and 30 minutes but don’t be afraid to ask for longer if you feel you need it.If it’s not right for you, just walk away.

Show that you’ve done your research, have taken test drives elsewhere and are nearing a decision on a new car and they’ll feel that you’re a genuine buyer worthy of their attention.īy the same token though, remember that you’re under absolutely no obligation to buy any car after taking a test drive. If you make clear to a salesperson that you’re seriously considering buying the car in question, you’ll get a lot more out of the dealership’s staff amid other customers who may take test drives with no intention of buying anything at all. As exciting as it can be to get handed the keys to the object of your desires, it’s paramount not to get swept away for the next 30 minutes without casting a critical eye over the vehicle the way a savvy buyer should. Once the insurance is sorted you can get to the good bit: the test drive itself.

Take your driving licence with you when you go to take a test drive.

Understand the terms of the insurance cover before driving, it’s likely to only offer third party cover.

Large dealerships will usually cover you to drive their demonstrators, but at smaller dealers you may need to get your own insurance cover.

Don’t drive any car unless you’re 100 per cent sure you’re insured to do so.

Only drive the car if both you and the seller are happy with the insurance arrangements and if you’re happy that the car is safe and roadworthy. Check with the seller that they’re happy for you to drive the car with this kind of insurance. You can also take out temporary insurance to cover you for a few hours. You should contact your insurer to double check that you are insured - not all insurance policies cover you on other cars, and in fact it's not as common as you might think. This goes for private sales as well - check that your insurance on your own car covers you, and confirm with the owner by showing them your certificate. It's still your responsibility to check that you are insured, though. Dealers may want to see your licence before letting you take a test drive, but it's usually no trouble at all and they will have people test driving cars all the time.

Uk bmw test drive age