Thinking of buying a New Car?

Buying a new car is an exciting yet also serious matter, so your approach to your purchase must be appropriate. One of the most informative and accessible ways to know if you would be the future owner of a vehicle or not would be to do a test drive.  It is also advisable to do several test drives in order to be able to compare each one and then decide which car has the most advantages or which one would suit you and your family the most. When selecting a vehicle, you should have also factored in what you can afford, after considering everything, you will eventually be able to select the most suitable car for you and your current needs.  Here are a few tips to consider when thinking about purchasing a new car:

You need to prepare yourself before you go to a dealership to test drive the vehicle. In other words, ideally, you must know what you are looking for in a car, e.g. the model of the car, car manufacturer and the features of the car.  It would be helpful for you to do some online research beforehand so that you have a general understanding of each car that you’re interested in.  Know which questions you would like to ask the salesman in order to find out the maximum information about the car. Also, make sure you have a copy of your driver’s license as well as proof of insurance because many dealerships will request it and it helps to have it on hand so that you are prepared.

Having car insurance may not be required by law but it is helpful to have insurance if you own a car. Having insurance protects you from potentially suffering financial strain should you be involved in an accident or should you be responsible for causing an accident and damaging another person’s vehicle.  It is imperative to have car insurance toreplace your car should the unthinkable happen and it gets stolen or hi-jacked. Finding the right insurance company that is reliable to insure your car is a key factor to benefiting the most out of car insurance. If you are unsure of which insurance to choose, seek advice from your car dealership and they should be able to assist you. 

Cars are a big expense as they are very costly. This means that you will need to budget properly in order to buy a car. When you are choosing a car and considering all the different factors to include in your budget, make sure that you budget for more than just a car's retail price. Keep in mind on-the-road-costs (e.g. Registration of your vehicle, licencing, number plates), how much you are going to spend on fuel given the distances you travel daily, insurance premiums, maintenance costs (such as services as well as tyres) and any other unforeseen expenses that you might come across. It is important that you stay within your means when purchasing a car. 

When dealing with the salesperson, be honest and upfront of your intentions and tell them your needs and wants in a car, and how much you are willing to spend on a car.   You should also inform the salesman if you are just browsing at multiple car dealerships and if you don’t want to purchase a car on that very same day.  If that is your intention, you may just want to test-drive, and if you decide to go with that car, you would love to get an estimate in the future and will consider buying from their dealership in the process. If they come along for the test-drive, ask as many questions as you would like to be more familiar with the car and the cars accessories. While you are driving, warn them about any sudden breaking or manoeuvres you are going to do while testing the car out.  For example, if you are going to test the emergency braking or accelerate quickly, let them know beforehand so they are prepared and aren’t being thrown around by a seemingly crazy driver. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WERE UNSURE OF. 

The salesperson may try to sell you the car the same day as you test-drive but consider taking some time to think about it yourself. Maybe discuss it with family, friends or a professional, and make a pros and cons list. Look at your notes, reflect on your drive and consider your options (such as costs, car loans, upkeep, etc.). Hopefully the test-drive made your decision easier and you can have an enjoyable car-buying experience keeping these test-driving tips in mind!