While buying a new vehicle is an exciting experience, it can also be a stressful one. Not only is there the stress of the negotiation process, but there's also the test drive. In fact, the prospect of getting in an unfamiliar vehicle with a perfect stranger and driving down the road together can be uncomfortable. What's more, the pressure is on: for in this short time span, most shoppers will make a decision on whether they will purchase their next new vehicle.
What to expectPart of what makes a test drive so stressful is that most consumers don't know what to expect, since buying a new vehicle isn't something they do very often. Be prepared to provide the dealer with some commonly requested information such as your driver's license, and, in some states, proof of insurance. The salesperson may want to make a copy of this information. This is done not only because they want to confirm that you are a registered driver, but also so they have your personal information should something problematic happen during the test drive. As unbelievable as it sounds, there have been cases of scams involving teams of people attempting to steal a vehicle during the test drive.
Once the salesperson gets the appropriate license plate for the vehicle and the keys, he or she will accompany you on the test drive, in most cases. Due to the risk of vehicle theft and joyriding, many dealers simply require that someone on their staff accompany the prospective buyer. But there's also a far more practical reason why the salesperson wants to join you; it provides the ideal opportunity for them to present details about the new vehicle in an effort to sell you a new car.
Frequently, the dealership will have a predetermined test drive route, which often provides a variety of driving conditions (city, highway, twisty roads, hills, traffic, etc.) that allow prospective owners to experience how the vehicle responds to different situations. Often the salesperson will drive first, demonstrating the vehicle's characteristics and talking about its features....
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