Test Car Driver Jobs

by Scott Morgan

If you feel the need for speed, test driving cars could be an ideal career path. Test drivers usually follow one of two routes to get behind the wheel -- either as journalists or engineers. Either way, if you make it you get to spend part of your career in the literal fast lane.

Road, Track and Instrument Testing

Testing new cars can be quite methodical. Instrument testers, in a controlled setting, use machines to test how well the car's mechanisms work. The usual next step is to take the car to a closed track to test it under driving conditions, typically at top speeds so you can test its true limits and performance. After that, you will road test the vehicle in real-world conditions to see how easy it is to drive or how it performs in traffic.

The Journalist Route

Car makers set aside a small fleet for members of the press who report on the industry. But just being a car industry writer is no guarantee you'll ever test drive anything. Getting a job behind the wheel demands that you first land a job with an established industry publication such as "Motor Trend." Getting such a job typically requires a bachelor's degree in journalism or communications and enough practical experience so you can provide samples of published work. You also need to be a car enthusiast who has expertise in the industry and can write compelling reviews.

Driving Skills a Must

As a journalist, getting behind the wheel of a test car takes a lot of time and connections, as competition for these jobs is fierce. Your chances will improve, however, if on top of being a great writer you also possess superior driving skills. Major car magazines often will provide basic training to aspiring drivers, but you will need to prove your ability to drive smoothly and professionally before they will assign you to a fast, expensive car.

The Engineering Route

If you're not a writer, the best way to test drive cars is to help build them. The way to do that is to start with a degree in automotive or mechanical engineering and an enthusiasm for cars. Next, you must apply for a position in the vehicle development department of a car manufacturing company. When you go this route you will be involved in various aspects of a car's design and development, from its speed and control to its all-weather stability, comfort and safety. Test driving is one way to properly gauge the car's performance.

Photo Credits

  • Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images
bibliography-icon icon for annotation tool Cite this Article