Shopping for a new car soon and want to get behind the wheel of the cars you’re considering in order to help make your final decision? Here are some things you’ll want to do before the test drive so that you’ll make the best choice in the car you invest in.

Know the Car You Want

Rather than approaching the dealership without a mind for which particular car you’ll be looking at, it’s best to go to the dealership with an agenda. Do your research on which style car you’ll be opting for, and then decided which make and which features you are most interested in. Go to the dealership with these decisions in mind and test drive only the cars you are truly considering buying.

Plan on Test Driving Several Cars

Try to test drive all of the cars that you are interested in within a small window of time when you will be able to remember exactly how you felt driving each car and how those cars compare. This might mean setting aside one specific day just for car test driving. You might even schedule your test drives at the dealerships ahead of time in order to make your day run more efficiently.

Do Some Research on the Cars You Want

Remember: this will be a test drive on major roads, and therefore you will need to know how to access certain amenities before getting on the road. Before beginning the test drive, ask the sales representative how to access certain important features like the windshield wipers, headlights, and blinkers. It’s also a good idea at this point to ask about climate control, stereo features, and other amenities so that you can decide how convenient they are for you to use. Of course, you’ll also want to adjust the seats and mirrors before the drive starts.

Take Note of Your Daily Vehicle Usage

A test drive isn’t only about getting a feel for how the car handles; it can also offer insight into how you will use the car in everyday life. Consider factors such as how easy it is for passengers to get in and out, how child seat-friendly it is, and whether or not it would fit into your garage. You’ll also want to think about the types of driving that you do more often, such as highway and city driving, so that you can plan to drive on routes that include these types of driving. Be sure to think of these things before you head to the dealership so that you will remember them during the test drive.

Invite a Friend

Lastly, it can be helpful to bring a friend to your test drive. A friend will be able to see things that you might overlook, especially as a passenger in the car. If you have children, it might be a good idea to bring them along to see how well they can navigate the car amenities that might be in the backseat.