Top Tips For Buying Your Next Car

Buying a new car is never easy. There are always a number of different factors that you need to consider. However, it can be exciting. Pretty soon, you will be the proud owner of a new vehicle. You will no doubt want to take it out for lots of long test drives to get used to it. 

Before you get too carried away in the fantasies of your new car, you should stop and consider a few things before you leap in. 

Paying For Your New Vehicle 

If you are planning on buying your car from new, an excellent option would be to take out car finance from a dealer. Spreading the cost of a large purchase will mean that you will be able to afford a much better car. You may have options to take the loan out over a variable length of time, meaning that the longer you have the loan over, the lower the payments, or you may be able to buy a more luxury vehicle. 

An option that may be available to you would be lease hire. You pay monthly for the lease of a vehicle over whatever period of time you need it. You don’t need to worry about the depreciation of the vehicle as the lease hire company will handle that.

If you have the funds to be able to buy a car outright, then this may be a good option for you. If you are buying from a private seller, this may be your primary method of payment. 

New Car Vs. Used Car

One of the major debates buyers often have is whether to buy new or used. There are strong arguments in favor of each. And there are things that you should be aware of for both too. 

If you are buying new, you will get a car that has never been driven. Everything on it is new, and ash such will be in top condition. Many of the parts on a new vehicle are covered under warranty, meaning if you do have issues with non-consumable parts, you should be able to get assistance from the manufacturer. 

Often, when it comes to buying new, dealers will often use sweeteners to incentivize buyers. These may include free insurance or some added extras for the vehicle. These can be helpful, providing they are things that are of use to you. 

New cars are likely to cost more to insure. Often, they are more desirable to car thieves and may have a higher value for payout in the event of a crash. 

Used cars needn’t be old bangers. A used car is anything that has been preowned. With many drivers changing their cars every couple of years, you may be looking for something that is a relatively new model. 

However, with all used cars, you need to be aware that there may be wear and tear. You should try and find out as much about the vehicle as possible in order to get a clear impression of the quality of the vehicle. Overloading your car can also lead to major wear and tear.

A good idea would be to have a check run on the vehicle to make sure it has never been registered as stolen or been written off by an insurance company following a crash. 

Used cars can be much cheaper than new ones. This makes them a popular choice for cash buyers. There may be room for negotiation in the price too. You can buy used cars from a dealer, or a private seller. You should consider the pros and cons of each of these aspects too.  

Dealer Vs. Private Seller

There are definite advantages and disadvantages to buying a used car from a private seller and a dealer. When it comes to buying from a dealer, you will have certainty in the fact that they are a business that may have existed for some time. They will have a history, and as such, will have amassed reviews online. Search for them and see what people are saying before you commit to buying from them. 

Ofter, a dealership will have an onsite garage and mechanic. The cars that they sell should have been checked over, and if any work was needed, it should have been carried out. Dealers like to present their cars in the best possible way as this is more likely to attract a sale. This means that the used car will have probably been valet cleaned before being put out on the forecourt. 

Dealers may be moved on price. However, they are generally hot salespeople. They understand how to negotiate, and if you think that you are getting the best deal in the arrangement, there is a distinct chance that, in reality, it is actually in the dealer’s favor. 

A second-hand car dealership will have obtained the car from somewhere. By the time they are selling it on to you, they need to make a profit, or it is not worth their while. With that in mind, it is worth noting that you may find a similar car being sold by a private seller for considerably less. 

Private sellers can be a varied experience. The fact is that you don’t really know very much about who you are buying from. But as in all aspects of life, there is good and bad. You may find a very honest seller, or you might find someone who is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. There is always an element of “buyer beware” when it comes to getting a car from a private seller. As this is the case, you need to ensure that you do your due diligence and check the vehicle over fully, ask questions, and run a history check before you commit to buying it. 

If a private seller has reviews online for previous sales, they may have made, check these out. The clearer the picture you have of them, the better it is for you. 

Running Costs

One significant factor when it comes to buying a car is considering the running costs. Try and find out how many miles it does to the gallon. With rising costs of fuel, this will be critical. Generally speaking, smaller cars tend to fare better on fuel consumption. However, this can vary from car-to-car and may depend on many factors. 

Insurance is another area that you should look into before making a decision. The cost of your insurance premium will vary depending on your age, address, the make, and model of the car, and it’s age. It also takes into account your driving history; how long you have held your license if you have any motoring convictions and if you have ever had a crash. 

You should always make sure you have adequate insurance cover. While the minimum requirement may be third party only, this does not cover you in the event of a crash that you are the cause of. If your car gets written off as a result of a crash, you will need to know that you have not lost the total value of the car. Otherwise, if you have your car on finance, you may well still be paying installments on a car that you no longer have.  

Whatever car you decide to go for, and wherever you decide to buy it from, make sure you go into the sale with your eyes wide open. Do your research into everything from the car right through to the buyer. Not spotting something in the sales process can be a costly mistake.