How old do you have to be to test drive a new car in California?

My friend is 18 with a full time job making well above minimum wage and is looking to buy a new car. I'm going with him instead of his parents because I know quite a bit more about cars than they do due to learning a lot from shop and working with my step father who is a mechanic. I'm only 19 though. Will they let us test drive the vehicles? Or will they deny the test drives because of our ages? We aren t test driving any extravagant cars, just like ford fiestas and Chevy sparks, and other small and simple cars like that.

He may or not be able to test drive a vehicle - it depends on what the dealer requirements are and he may not be able to purchase a vehicle until 21 ; again, depends on the dealer

If he is a licensed driver there's no legal impediment to test driving a vehicle. A dealer may want some indication that he is serious about purchasing a vehicle and has the means to do so.

Sure, they will let your friend test drive an automobile, unless they have some in-house policy of a higher age requirement. Anyone who is 18 years of age is considered a legal adult, and they are eligible to purchase, insure, and register an automobile. So there's no real reason why a dealership wound not allow a test drive.