test drive

[Silver R/T]

what are qualifications that you need to test drive a car at local dealer?

[TheGhost]

Usually, a a drivers license, and at most of the local ones, you have to be at least 18.

[Silver R/T]

and they have to be assured that you ARE trying to buy a car, Ive heard. Not just joyriding. Do you have to have insurance?

[ChgrSteve67]

I have found its a combination of the sales person and the car you want to test drive and of course having a valid drivers license.

I have never had them ask me if I ever met a particular criteria before offering to take me for a ride.

I have asked to take a test drive in several cars (Prowler & Corvette) and they told me that they have a specific test drive vehicle and that they don't want any miles put on the others they have in stock.

I have come across a few motorcycle dealers that do not allow test rides period. I don't buy from dealerships that do this.

If I can't test drive a vehicle I plan on buying then I don't buy.

You do not have to have insurance, the dealership caries their own coverage.
However you will be responcible for the damage to the car you were test driving.

Do you have a story you want to tell us?

[Vainglory, Esq.]

It depends on the car - the high end things might require pre qualifications.  Most every motorcycle dealership except BMW does not allow test rides either.

[Telvis]

I didn't know there were any qualifications. I guess if you walked to the dealership they might get a bit nervous.

[694spdRT]

That is why it is nice to have friends at the dealership.....unescorted and unlimited test drives. I have turned down several offers to try out a new Hemi Charger. I did try out a Hemi Magnum and a GTO just because. 

[Silver R/T]

I have found its a combination of the sales person and the car you want to test drive and of course having a valid drivers license.

I have never had them ask me if I ever met a particular criteria before offering to take me for a ride.

I have asked to take a test drive in several cars (Prowler & Corvette) and they told me that they have a specific test drive vehicle and that they don't want any miles put on the others they have in stock.

I have come across a few motorcycle dealers that do not allow test rides period. I don't buy from dealerships that do this.

If I can't test drive a vehicle I plan on buying then I don't buy.

You do not have to have insurance, the dealership caries their own coverage.
However you will be responcible for the damage to the car you were test driving.

Do you have a story you want to tell us?

I do not have story, but I thought id go to dealerships and drive a few cars, possibly a magnum sedan too to see how I like it. I do not intend to buy one though. I know that couple guys went to test drive SRT4 neon and dealer drove them around, didnt let them drive it. What do you think about this lol. I would just find another dealer or something rather than getting a ride from dealer. I dont really care if the dealer would be in the car too as I would like to ..."test" the car

[69_500]

Well not too many of them are likely to turn loose of a car to a person who is younger without one of  their salesmen being in the car. Some dealerships around here allow you to take cars on 24 hour test drives, and  try them out.

[Silver R/T]

and also depends what you drive there and how you appear to them, if you drive a geo and wear greasy tshirt and wanna test drive corvette...I honestly dont see it happening.

[Charger_Fan]

I have come across a few motorcycle dealers that do not allow test rides period. I don't buy from dealerships that do this.

If I can't test drive a vehicle I plan on buying then I don't buy.

Most every motorcycle dealership except BMW does not allow test rides either.

Absolutely right.
In fact, I personally don't know ANY motorcycle dealerships that will let someone test ride a bike unless the salesman is familiar with the person & absolutely KNOWS that person knows how to ride...and even then, it's rare.
I work at a bike dealership & you'd be amazed how many people I've seen or heard of that go buy a bike & flop it within the first couple miles...sometimes they don't make 100 feet before they crash into a parked car, or even the side of the building!
Whenever I sell a bike of my own, that buyer isn't even swinging a leg over it until I have the full selling price in cash in my hot little hands...THEN he can go test ride it all he wants.

It's a little different from driving an unfamiliar car...there isn't balance involved in driving a car. Hell, there's people who can't even handle a 4-wheeler!

There's a Harley dealer that will RENT you a bike, but if you flop it, I'm sure you'll pay bucks to fix it.

[BigBlackDodge]

and they have to be assured that you ARE trying to buy a car, Ive heard. Not just joyriding. Do you have to have insurance?

I've had that happen.

The wife and I wanted to drive a new PT Cruiser to see if we liked it enough to by one (which we did...........3 months later). After explaining what we wanted to the sale person he went to check with the manager to see if it was okay to test drive a car that we were not purchasing that day!!!!

Buy it today? Hell, I don't even know if I like it!

He went inside to see the manager to get permisssion and we went elsewhere....audios!..........they lost a sale!

BBD

[Shakey]

If you want to test drive a car, look like you are mature enough to afford it.

No oofense meant, but don't walk in there with torn jeans and a t-shirt on'

Dress sharp and act like an informed adult.

[MyMopar]

We had a local dealer hand out invites when the Magnum was new.  We scored an invite from a friend of my wifes at work and went on down.  It was only a V-8 model and it moved.  Short test drive, 3-4 minutes because they had a long line.  They had the hi-po Ram (name eludes me at this time) there and I asked about a test drive in that, no can do but I really wasn't buying and didn't care either. 
Like others mentioned, look like you know what you're doing and that you might possibly buy, mention test driving other vehicles and you wat to check out the magnum.  They will be more at ease if it seems that you have taken otehrs for a test drive.  When all is done, be like well the Magnum was nice but I am torn between that and the Mini Cooper 

[greenpigs]

 Salesman told me someone had to ride with you for a test drive because some guy lost it in a srt and their insurance demands a rep be in the car now. It didn't matter to me, he got to hear me say the brakes suck and this thing is a pig when I accelerated(Jeep Liberty). They didn't ride with me when I bought my truck which was after the jeep trip, guess they trusted me.
 It does make a difference on what you look like but not everyone with the $ to buy a new ride shines like a new penny. So they play the averages and young people get the treatment of being insane joyriders.

[andy74]

i do everything on a case by case basis,if some one came in and wanted to take a test drive in a srt10 ram,or a viper,they would have to show that they were quailfied to buy it-no questions asked.if its a caravan or a truck,i would take it on a one to one.

one thing a lot of people seem to forget is that salespeople only get paid if they SELL a car,not to go joy rideing around with every tom dick and harry.alot of the time it also depends on the customers attitude,if some one comes in and says im going to drive a magnum,charger,durango and a ram,i would slow them down by asking what they intend to do- if you were buying a30k plus car,would you want 10 people beating the shit out of it first?common sense,unless i like you,then you can take anything on my lot for a drive(just about)

[derailed]

Just ask this guy for a test drive 

http://www.lemonzoo.com/funny_videos/493/crazy_test_drive.html