Tech: Before buying a new car, test drive it from the comfort of your home—find out how a VR test drive works..

Test drive a new car from the comfort of your home—discover how VR test drives work. Taking a test drive before buying a new car is crucial, but issues like traffic, time constraints, and the hassle of visiting a showroom often deter people. Now, there is an excellent solution to this problem: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).
You can now test drive a new car from home using your mobile phone or a VR headset, experiencing it just as if you were driving a real vehicle.

How do VR-AR test drives work?

Many major car manufacturers are now introducing VR technology. By wearing a VR headset or using a mobile app, you can sit inside the car virtually and:

Start and drive the vehicle.
Drive across various road conditions, traffic scenarios, and weather settings.
Closely examine the seating, interior space, dashboard, and features
Experience the vehicle's engine sound, acceleration, and braking feel
The experience is so realistic that many people make their purchasing decision before even visiting a showroom.

Growing use of AR/VR in India
AR and VR technologies are rapidly gaining popularity in India. Companies like Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai, and Mercedes are offering VR showrooms and virtual test drive facilities.
Customers can compare multiple cars within 10–15 minutes from the comfort of their homes.

AR trials are also being used for clothing—you can use your mobile camera to virtually "wear" an outfit and see how it looks on you.

Benefits of VR-AR test drives
Time-saving: No need to visit a showroom.
Convenience: Test drive from the comfort of your home without any pressure.
Informed decisions: Gain a clear understanding of the interior feel, space, and features.
Family involvement: The entire family can view and test the car together at home.
No pressure: Avoids pressure from salespeople.

What does the future hold?
Experts believe that within the next 2–3 years, most car manufacturers will make VR test drives a standard feature. People living in smaller towns and villages—where large showrooms are often unavailable—will benefit the most from this.

VR and AR technologies are transforming the entire car-buying experience. You no longer have to endure the heat, rain, or traffic. You can take test drives of multiple cars from the comfort of your home and make the right decision without any pressure. If you are planning to buy a new car, be sure to check for the VR test drive option on your preferred brand's app or website.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.