Test drive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the computer game, see Test Drive (video game).

A test drive is taking an automobile for a short drive to test its drivability and general operating state.

The first test drives of a new production vehicle are made by mainstream automobile magazines and other third parties (not customers) for evaluation for the first time.^[1]

It is a normal part of the purchasing process of a vehicle. Any other vehicle can be test driven as part of buying it. Test drives can also be taken after a vehicle repair to ensure that the work has been done properly or before a repair to assist in diagnosis. Driver certification sometimes includes a supervised test drive depending on the vehicle and the particular country or local statutes.

In a broader sense, one can "test drive" anything that is usable by an individual, such as a computer program, an idea or process, a pair of shoes, etc. This usage is more slang than the vehicle test drive which is a commonly used phrase in English.

A person who tests vehicles for a living, either for an automobile company or a motorsports team, is called a test driver.