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10 top tips for buying a car

Thinking of buying a car? Check out our top 10 tips from finding the right car to getting a good deal.

03 February 2017Andre Spiteri 4 min read

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Buying a car could be your biggest purchase apart from buying a home, so it pays to do some research and shop smart. You’ll face a bewildering variety of decisions, so let us help you navigate around the potential pitfalls with these top 10 tips fresh from the car-buying battlefield.

Dreaming of a Maserati on a Micra budget? Start by working out what you can afford. If you’re borrowing money to buy a car, you’ll need to cover not just the monthly payments but also the cash to keep it on the road.

It’s worth allowing for – deep breath – insurance, car tax, fuel, an annual MOT for cars over three years old, servicing, repairs, parts, breakdown cover, parking charges and depreciation (that is, the loss in value over time). Phew. If you’re on a limited budget, it’s worth thinking about fuel economy, reliability and cheaper insurance.

Do you know your leasing from hire purchase (HP) or a personal contract plan (PCP)? Welcome to the wonderful world of car finance.

It’s worth understanding your options before setting foot on a forecourt. Sure, the salesman might promise tempting offers if you sign up in the showroom. But maybe you could cut the cost of borrowing by shopping around for car finance options elsewhere first.

You may even be better off going with a personal loan or credit card if it covers the cost of the car. Make sure you compare interest rates (look for the APR), monthly payments and total interest paid.

Compare options from a range of lenders from the comfort of your home. View your car finance options on ClearScore now.

For most of us, it’s hard to get a realistic feel for a car on a 15-minute test drive. Too scared to put a toe out of line, few of us actually drive how we would day-to-day.

But test drives don’t have to be so short and prescribed. Don’t be afraid to ask for more time or to go on a slight detour – the salesperson can only say no. This way, you might get a chance to head out to a fast road and get a real feel for the car at speed and whilst accelerating. If you can get to a supermarket car park you could even try a reverse bay park to get more realistic idea of how the car moves. If it’s a second-hand car, having a longer drive will also help you test all the gears, and trying a reverse park will help you make sure it does actually reverse (which may sound daft, but trust us, you can never be too careful).

The drawback of a brand spanking new car is that the moment you drive it off the forecourt, you will lose thousands of pounds. Why? Because the car is no longer new. Weigh up whether your wallet might be better off with a second-hand car – or even nearly new. If you go for a second hand option, you could pay extra for peace of mind and buy from a dealer instead of a private seller. Can’t decide whether to go new or second-hand? Read our pros and cons.

Any salesman will say you’re getting a good deal. If you want to be sure, do your homework first. You can check the list price for particular makes and models on websites like Parkers, What Car and Honest John or by flicking through a copy of Auto Express.

The cost will also be affected by the age and condition of the car, the mileage, where you’re buying it (from a dealer, private seller or at auction) and any warranties and guarantees on top.

Depending on when you buy a car, you might get a better discount. Work out when the dealer might be keen to do a deal. Good times might be a few weeks before dealers hit their targets each quarter, or before new number plates are issued in March and September.

Also, consider the kind of car. You might get more money off a convertible in the middle of winter, or on a 4x4 in a heat wave.

This isn’t a trick question. With some car financing options like Hire Purchase, leasing and PCP, you get to drive a car, but it’s not yours. Instead, the car still belongs to the dealership or finance company and you’re effectively leasing it from them each month. On the plus side, these kind of finance plans should lead to lower monthly payments. However, if you can’t keep up the repayments, the company could come and take the car back.

If you’re buying a used car, it’s worth making sure that the car definitely belongs to the person who’s selling it to you. If you buy a car that has unpaid finance on it, it may actually still belong to the finance company, not the seller. If this is the case, the company could chase you for the money or even try to repossess your new wheels. So if you’re buying a used car, it’s worth shelling out £20 to £25 for a vehicle car history check. This will show not just if there’s any outstanding finance, but also if it’s been involved in a serious accident, stolen or written off by an insurance company.

There’s a whole laundry list of things to check when you’re looking at the condition of a car and taking a test drive. If in doubt, you can always pay an expert to check the car for you. From around £100 to £120 you can get an independent report from a motoring organisation or other specialist.

Checked out your chosen car? Now get ready to haggle. Start low, stay friendly and don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re not getting the deal you want. See if you can get any extras thrown in, from breakdown cover to floor mats. Ask for written quotes, so you know exactly which options are included, and can play one seller off against another. Then you can drive off into the distance, confident you got a good deal on the right car for you.

Ready to secure your car finance? See your deals on ClearScore.


Andre Spiteri Image

Written by Andre Spiteri

Financial Writer

Andre is a former lawyer turned award-winning finance writer.