Do you want to buy a new car? If so then you have come to the right place. This guide will help you to buy the car you want, and at a price you can afford.
Does it Have to Be New?
Buying a new car isn’t always the best option. Sure, the allure of a new car can be tempting but at the end of the day, it will lose half its value within the first couple of years. A used car can work out way cheaper and you may even still be able to spread the cost with finance. If you are having a hard time finding a used car you like then it may be that you need to broaden your horizons. Take the time to think about your future and what you see. If you intend on having kids in a few years then why not buy a car suited to family use? You might not have a family right now, but if you suspect that is going to change then you can future-proof your investment which is only a good thing.
Buying at the Right Time
The month you buy your car can also play a large part in the price. Dealers have a lot of targets they need to meet and these are usually done quarterly. If you want to get the best price then you need to focus on buying at the end of March, June or even September. Buying at the end of December might seem difficult from a financial point of view, but it is a great way for you to get the best deal for your money. You will have way more bargaining room and this can work in your favor, especially if you are on a budget. Remember, you shouldn’t be afraid to bargain with your dealer. You need to take the time to push them on the price and make sure that they know where you stand. If you allow yourself to be pushed around then you will be, and you will have to pay the financial repercussions of this.
Buy a Pre-Reg
Another thing you can do if you want to save money would be for you to buy a pre-reg car. This is a car that has not been owned by a customer but has been registered by the dealership or a leasing firm. Although, with a car like this, you will not be the first owner, it’ll still be a brand-new car. Better still, you will be able to take advantage of the fact that you are getting a model fresh out of the factory at a lower price. There are no real downsides to getting a car like this, so make sure that you explore the possibility of this for yourself.
Know What You Want
It is very helpful for you to know what you are looking for. Although you are of course, welcome to change your mind, you do have to make sure that you have a rough idea of what suits your budget. If you are looking for a Tesla or a BMW, then it helps to have an idea of what you can get for your money so you don’t get drawn into the extra perks and benefits. If you notice that a car has a lot of extras that you can add on then this is great, but the last thing you want is to go over your budget trying to pay for everything. If you do then this will work against you, so be mindful of that if you can.
Get Insurance
Believe it or not, you should try and get an insurance quote before you buy. If you don’t then this will make it much harder for you to get an idea of how much you want to spend. The last thing you want is to be in a situation where you have left the showroom with the car of your dreams, only to find that you cannot afford to put the insurance money down. Take your time and make sure that you are making good decisions when picking your vehicle.
Buy a Run-Out
A run-out car is one that is going to be replaced very soon, by a newer model. Run-out models tend to be cheaper, as dealers are always looking for ways to replace them with newer stock. If you don’t mind having an older model then this is a great way for you to save a small fortune. One thing to take note of here is that models are always being released, so even if you do buy the newest car, it’ll be out of the current line-up soon anyway.
Spread the Cost
Buying a car on finance will have way cheaper up-front costs. It is way better than having to replace it outright as well. When you buy a car on finance, you will put down your deposit and then you will make regular payments on your car. Depending on the financing option that you go with, you may even find that you have the option of buying the car at the end of the lease term. Buying a car this way means you will have to pay interest on it, and this can work out rather expensive. For this reason, if you can, it is helpful to put a down payment on your car. This will lower your monthly expenses and it will also help you to get the overall result you are going for.
Know your Rights
If you buy a car and you come to the conclusion that it has a fault then you have nothing to worry about here. You do still have rights. If you buy a car from the dealership then you may notice that you are protected under your consumer rights. Your car has to be of satisfactory quality and it also has to be fit for purpose as well. If it isn’t then you could well have a case. If you have bought your car online then it is still subject to these regulations, not to mention that you will have time to return it if you want.
Financial Protection
Depending on when you decide to buy the car you want, you should know that you will still be able to benefit from financial protection. If you have paid the full cost of the car with your credit card then you will be covered. If you buy with a debit card then you can get your money back through a chargeback. This is a great way for you to make sure that you are covered, even when buying a used car. If you are buying through a private seller then you may be tempted to pay in cash, but this is something you should avoid at all costs. If you don’t then you may find that you end up with issues later down the line and you may not be able to guarantee that you can get in touch with them again. Always pay by card and leave a paper trail for your vehicle so if you do run into issues, you can, at last, feel confident knowing that you are going to be somewhat covered for your purchase.
Look at your Options
When the time comes for you to buy a car, you need to make sure that you explore your options. It may be that you end up trading your old vehicle in, so you can get some money off. Most of the time your old vehicle won’t be worth that much, but if you can save a few thousand here then it’ll help you a lot in the long run. If your car has a fault then you will need to let the company know about it, because if you don’t and they come to the conclusion that the car is not worth what they paid you for it, then this can have monumental consequences. If the car that you have right now has been written off due to an accident or due to damages then it could be worth hiring car accident lawyers. They may be able to get you compensation for your accident, so you can feel confident knowing that you can get the money you need toward a new vehicle. You may also be able to claim on your insurance, so make sure that you keep that in mind.
Buying a new car can be a stressful experience, but there are things you can do to try and make everything easier on yourself. It may be that you explore your options online first, and then visit your dealership. You can also get quotes from other people regarding your car, as this will help you to play the dealers off against each other, making it easier for you to get a solid price. If a dealer knows that they are in competition with other people then this will make them more likely to give a good price.
