You could drive the car...but only if you don't mind getting a ticket. I swapped my parts out with another guy and just backing the cars in and out of the garage to get them on the lift showed me how loud they can be just idling. We also had to back his car out without headers....WOW was that loud!!! I expected to see flames shoot out but they didn't. We didn't shut the hood either just so we could keep an eye on it. Anyway, I would recommend driving it without the exhaust.