Ronald Montoya for Edmunds

How to test drive your car salesperson

Many know it's important to test-drive a car before you buy it, but what about your car salesman? Shouldn't you have a say in that, too? While the short answer is that you should always be able to choose what car salesperson you prefer to do business with, the process doesn't often feel so simple in the real world. Walk onto any car dealership's lot and one of two things will likely happen: Either a salesman or saleswoman will greet you, or you'll wander the lot for minutes before help finally arrives. Regardless of how soon you are helped, the salesperson who arrives was predetermined. You are his or her next "up."

The "up" system at a car dealership is meant to fairly distribute walk-in customers among salespeople. But

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