There are a number of actions that experts recommend consumers take before purchasing a used car. From getting a detailed service history of the car to making sure your credit is in order most of the steps are equally important, but one of the most crucial is going ignored by many would-be drivers. A recent study conducted by LeaseTrader.com found that the number of people who do not test drive their cars has nearly doubled since 2007, The New York Times reports.

The findings seemed to back up similar experiences from dealers and industry insiders. One man, consultant Oren Weintraub, said that even though he strongly urges his customers to test drive a car before buying it, as many as one-third of these drivers decide not to do so. He believes the reason has a lot to do with the fact that people are increasingly sure of what they want.

"Generally these are people who know what they want, whether it’s because they're very brand-loyal or they’ve fallen in love with the styling of a particular model," Weintraub told the Times. "Same goes for buyers who are strictly interested in getting the best deal, and those with limited choices like a big family that needs a nine-passenger vehicle with 4-wheel drive."

While this may be the case, there are still many benefits of a test drive, especially when it comes to a used car. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, there are a few steps you should always follow.

To start, the DMV recommends checking out everything including the mirrors, the seat adjustment controls and storage compartments. As for the drive itself, make sure you test out the car's acceleration on the highway and steering ability most of all.

Of course, visiting a reliable dealer is a great way to ensure you're getting a good deal. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides consumers with numerous makes and models at affordable prices.