Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when can I use the service?
At the moment Cartrast has 32 locations across 19 states: all of which are located in existing office buildings and where all test drives take place. You can see a full list of our facilities here. Customers must make a reservation on the home page to come in between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Saturday or Sunday, or any public holidays. (Friday test drives may be available at our Irvine location.) The cutoff time for customers to start a test drive experience is 5:00 pm. We are situated inside all of the buildings. Please give us a call at 669-222-9588 or e-mail us at support@cartrast.com if you have any questions about our locations.
What health and safety measures has Cartrast implemented in light of the coronavirus situation?
Depending on local public health guidelines, once you arrive at a Cartrast location before your experience, you may be asked to take a mandatory temperature check as well as complete a form with a series of questions. If you have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above, you will be unable to perform your comparison test and one of our representatives will reschedule your session. In order to comply with local public health guidelines and to promote a safe and healthy experience at the experience, we ask that you only get behind the wheel if you can answer "NO" to all questions below:
Have you tested positive for COVID-19?
Within the past 14 days, have you been ordered by a healthcare provider or public health official to self-quarantine?
Within the past 14 days, have you experienced any symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other flu-like symptoms?
Within the past 14 days, have you had any close contact (within 6 feet) with a person who has shown symptoms or received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis?
Would you self-identify as an individual at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 as defined by the CDC?
Masks are not required, though recommended. We can provide you with a PPE mask, gloves, and hand sanitizer upon request. Wash stations and contactless sanitizer stations will be widely available at multiple touchpoints.
We will also only allow one guest or family in a vehicle at a time when the vehicle is in motion. As you may be experiencing some of these vehicles for the first time, before you set off, one of the masked Cartrast staff will help you become familiar with the controls and vehicle features as well as go over the suggested test drive route.
We will be wiping down all touchpoints in the vehicles (steering wheels, seat adjustment controls, gear selector knobs, dashboard controls, door handles, etc.) throughout the day to ensure the vehicles are sanitized for guests.
If you have any questions, give us a call at 669-222-9588 or e-mail us at support@cartrast.com. You can also reach us through our contact form on this page and learn more about our dedicated COVID-19 prevention guidelines here.
Is a minder or salesperson riding in the vehicles during the experience?
While you are on your test drives, the vehicle will be occupied by you and your guests. Prior to your test drives, one of the Cartrast staff will help you get familiarized with the vehicles and their features as well as go over the test drive route before you set off. None of our staff will be onboard while the vehicles are in motion unless requested by our customers. If you have any questions regarding this, please call us at 669-222-9588.
Do I need to arrive exactly at the time listed on my reservation?
As long as you arrive at our location within 15 minutes before or 45 minutes after the time listed on your reservation, the Cartrast staff will be able to accommodate you. The reservation is primarily for our planning purposes to ensure customers can test drive all the vehicles they want. Please note that you will not be able to begin a test drive experience after 5:30 pm.
I’m interested in both the family SUVs and minivans. Do I need to pay for two experiences to try out both types of vehicles?
No. Your test drive schedule can be arranged to accommodate both types of vehicles. In the event you’ve test driven some minivans and want to try out an SUV for balance, find your assigned Cartrast representative and he or she will put you behind the wheel of the 3-row SUV of your choice at no extra charge.
Can I pay once I arrive at Cartrast?
Yes, though you must make a reservation on our website ahead of time. If you are unable to make the appointment at Cartrast, please call us at 669-222-9588 or e-mail support@cartrast.com and we can reschedule your experience. In addition, if you’ve decided on a vehicle after the experience and prefer not to visit a dealership at all, we can handle the new car buying or leasing process on your behalf for an additional $99.
Which vehicles can I test?
At the moment, we are offering test drives of the electric vehicles on the market with a range between 200 and 300 miles: Kia Niro EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Kona Electric, Chevrolet Bolt, Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.4, and Nissan Leaf Plus. Customers with families can sample minivans such as the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna. If a minivan isn’t for you, three-row family SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Palisade, Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Atlas, Nissan Pathfinder, Chevrolet Traverse, Subaru Ascent, Dodge Durango, Mazda CX-9, Buick Enclave, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, GMC Acadia, and Kia Telluride are available. In addition, compact car shoppers can try out the Mazda3, Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza, and Kia Forte sedans.
Furthermore, compact SUV customers can now schedule back-to-back drive sessions of the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander, GMC Terrain, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, Jeep Compass, Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Ford Bronco Sport, Chevrolet Equinox, and Hyundai Tucson. Those requiring even more practicality (with passenger room not being a necessity) can try out a selection of midsize pickup trucks, with the Nissan Frontier, Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, Jeep Gladiator, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Ranger and GMC Canyon on offer. Please be aware that the midsize trucks available for test drives will all have the crew cab configuration with a short bed and a V-6 engine.
Those looking to drive more luxurious vehicles can try out the Cartrast Premium lineup. The Cartrast Premium compact sedans include the BMW 3-Series, Genesis G70, Cadillac CT5, Lexus IS, Volvo S60, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Infiniti Q50, Tesla Model 3, and Acura TLX. With our premium compact SUV lineup you can try the Lexus NX, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Volvo XC60, Cadillac XT5, Porsche Macan, Acura RDX, BMW X3, Jaguar F-PACE, Buick Envision, Infiniti QX50, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, Tesla Model Y, Range Rover Velar, and Audi Q5. Customers looking for an even larger luxury SUV to cart more people and items can sample our premium midsize SUVs such as the Audi Q7, Cadillac XT6, Land Rover Discovery, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Acura MDX, Maserati Levante, BMW X5, Lexus RX, Volvo XC90, Porsche Cayenne, Infiniti QX60, Range Rover Sport, and Lincoln Aviator.
You can sign up here to be immediately notified when new vehicles are available for test drives.
Why are sports cars no longer available for test drives?
Due to the winter season, we have seen reduced demand for the sports cars and we will not be offering them in the near term. They may be coming back in the summer of 2023 depending on customer demand. You can scroll down below to sign up for e-mail updates to be notified when the Cartrast Sports Car Experience is active again.
Would it be possible to use Cartrast to purchase or lease my next new vehicle instead of going to a dealership?
Yes. Cartrast offers a purchasing and leasing consulting program for $99 where we’ll locate the vehicle with your preferred colors and options as well as have the purchase or lease pricing negotiated on your behalf. If financing is needed, some of our dealer or banking partners may be able to help you. You are also able to sign the purchase or lease paperwork and take delivery at our location.
Will I need to reserve my test drives?
Yes. We have to limit the number of people onsite at any given time as well as to make sure that our customers are safe as well as able to drive every vehicle they are interested in. In order to meet the level of customer satisfaction that we strive for, Cartrast experiences must be reserved ahead of time. You can find out when we’ll have the vehicles you’re interested in onsite here. Give us a call at 669-222-9588 if you have any questions.
I've taken part in a Cartrast experience and bought/leased a new vehicle. How can I receive a Visa gift card?
Congratulations on your new car! Please visit our Gift Card Promotion Details page, which gives a full rundown of how to get an eGift Card sent to your e-mail inbox.
How can I get a voucher code for a Cartrast experience?
Cartrast has agreements with certain car dealers, banks, credit unions, and other companies to offer experiences at discounted rates for their customers and employees. Due to the arrangements we have with these businesses, we cannot list them on our website. If you would like to learn more, please call us at 669-222-9588 or e-mail support@cartrast.com.