When you go to buy a new vehicle, the first thing you should always do is test drive everything you’re interested in. A test drive is not only free but the best way to find out if a vehicle is right for you. Sure, you might have fallen in love with a photo on the internet, but nothing compares to driving the real thing. Of course, you also need to know what to look for and think about when test driving, which unfortunately flies straight out of everyone’s mind the minute they turn the key in the ignition. Check out our list of things to ask yourself about your test drive, and maybe even bring a friend along to prompt you with this list!

1. How does the ride feel? Is it smooth or bumpy? Do you feel like you are connected to the vehicle? Different vehicles handle the road differently, of course, but does this one meet your expectations?

2. Make sure you test the brakes in every braking situation. Slow braking, fast braking, braking on a hill… if you can drive, you can brake. How do the brakes feel? Would you trust them with your life?

3. Test the acceleration where it’s safe to do so. Do you get up to speed the way you want to? This is a very important part of a new vehicle for many people.

4. Is the inside of the vehicle noisy? Do you get a lot of feedback from the road? Can you see clearly out of all the windows?

5. Finally, how do the steering and handling hold up? Do you have the kind of control you want? How’s the turning radius? How does the vehicle deal with curved roads?

Ask yourself these questions before making any decisions and you’ll be so much more likely to end up in the perfect vehicle!