When you’re buying for the first time, it can be daunting. How do you know you’re not getting ripped off or worse buying a car that’s potentially a death trap. This experience can be made all the more worrisome if your knowledge of motor mechanics is limited to knowing your car takes unleaded over diesel and that’s it.
Below are my top tips in choosing and buying a car for those who really only worry about the colour.
Ask Around
Don’t be afraid to talk to your network when it comes to starting your research. The best recommendations are generally from people you trust, who don’t have a hidden agenda to sell you an old banger or have you parting with too much cash.
If you ask nicely they may even let you take their model for a test drive so you can really get the feel for any car you were thinking of buying.
Find out how much they pay for insurance and roughly how much petrol they’re using each week and you’ll be all set to face a seller or dealer secure in the knowledge that you can afford the price and the week-to-week running costs.
List Your Must Haves
If you’re going to spend a decent amount of money on something then make sure it at least has the very basics of what you need. You might feel a parking pilot is entirely unnecessary but having air conditioning and seat warmers are absolutely vital. Prepare your bottom line and don’t be afraid to go in hard with the negotiations. They want a sale, you want a car, you have everything to play for.
Similarly, don’t be afraid to say no when a pushy sales person tries to foist on you all the extras. It’s easy to be sold additional options but they very quickly mount up leaving you with an eye-wateringly expensive credit card bill.
Look For The Deals
You can head straight to the car dealership of your choice or you can spend a little time shopping around for deals from used car traders. It’s generally a bit better to avoid private sales that offer you no recourse should you buy something unreliable but most dealerships, used or otherwise, will offer you some kind of warranty.
If you’re less worried about the make of your car jump in on special offers such as the Mercedes & Smart car offers at LSH Auto for example. Just make sure you don’t buy the first vehicle you see, take your time and find a deal that ticks all the boxes.
The same goes for insurance drivers, check out comparison sites, lifestyle bloggers and local brokers to find a deal that gives you great value for money. If you’re an older or more experienced driver, make sure you have your No Claims Discount references to hand.
Getting the right deal just takes a bit of research and a lot of confidence. Don’t be afraid to follow my tips and start your negotiations early. You won’t know what you can achieve until you’re driving away with a fabulous car and a great bargain.
