Always remember who is in charge If you decide to buy your car in a dealership, ensure that you remain focused and ensure that you dictate what the dealer shows you and do not let them sell you what they want to sell you.
For example in a dealership they may have a car that they are trying to sell more of or generally get rid of, they will try to push this car on you, this is where you need to remain strong and focused tell him what you are here for.
Don't be afraid to take control, if you do not understand something that the dealer is telling you then make them explain until you do.
Always remember if you do not like the way you are being treated or what you are hearing you can always walk away.
Always treat buying a car as a business transaction Do not get emotionally involved when purchasing a car; always stick to your budget.
Remain logical and conscientious at all times, if you feel yourself getting flustered always remember to step back and weigh up your decision.
Know where you can lose money When purchasing a car there are three main areas in the transaction that if you are not aware of you can and will lose a lot of money.
1.
Settling on a price- It is very important that you are comfortable with the price you are paying for your vehicle, do your research before you make any rash decisions, we will show you just how to understand the value of a vehicle.
2.
Settling on Finance- In the members section we show you how to find the best finance deals, make sure that you get the best deal possible, many buyers are ill-informed and lose a lot of money.
3.
Negotiating Trade Ins- A lot of buyers go into a trade dealer without being aware of the actual value of their own car before shaking hands.
Did you know that if you do the correct research you can save hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds.
Further on in this guide we will show you just how to deal with these areas, we will provide you with the knowledge and put you in a strong position whether or not you are buying trade or private.
Where to buy a car When looking for your car, where you search for it will almost definitely effect the price of the car and the level of service you get.
Here are the different places that you can look when finding a car, and the advantages/disadvantages of each.
Dealer forecourt It is widely known that getting your car from a dealer is generally the most expensive place to look for your new vehicle.
But you also should receive the best service.
Brokers Using a broker, you can find yourself a good deal on your new car.
If you decide to use a broker unfortunately you will most likely have to travel a long way to pick up your car.
Internet Companies Using an internet company is a good way to find a good car for a decent price, they generally have good search engines helping you to find exactly what you want.
Unfortunately just because they are selling a car doesn't mean that they can supply it to you quickly.
You can find many used cars from internet companies also.
Importers Importing a car is a good option especially if you want to save money, buying a car from a country with a weaker currency can save you a lot of money.
If you decide to import a car you should be really sure that it's the car that you want.
Small independent businesses These kinds of businesses generally stock a wide range of motors, but they might not be the colour or spec that you're looking for.
They can also be more expensive than buying private.
Online Auctions (eBay) Finding a car on eBay is becoming a popular option, you can save a lot of money and pickup some good bargains.
Look at our eBay section for some guides on how to get the best out of it.