Buying a new car is a significant event, whether it is your first car or simply your next car. Since the major shift in the automotive industry towards electric models, the average new car price has risen by a significant £12,000; against the cost-of-living crisis, the money spent on either a new or used car is money that needs to be carefully considered. For someone with little automotive experience, what are some simple dos and don’ts to help guide the car-buying process?
The Dos
#1 – Do Your Research
This might seem like a broad, vague catch-all statement, and to some extent it is. But it is crucial to your car-buying journey on multiple levels, and should be an ongoing mantra while you hunt for your next vehicle. Not only should you be digging into statistics and data regarding the cars you’re looking at, but also information relating to the seller. Are they reputable, and do they have a good customer service rating online?
#2 – Do Check With the DVLA
Part of your hunt for information, though, stands apart from the rest. It is possible, particularly when it comes to private sellers of used cars, that a car you’re looking at could have been involved in illegal activity. A simple way to check for this is to run its numberplate through the DVLA’s online database, to see if it has been registered stolen.
#3 – Do Get Temporary Car Insurance
One vitally important part of scoping out your next car is the test drive. When you get to the latter stages of your car hunt, you’ll want to get some hands-on experience with each model. For new cars, this would be to see if you like how it handles; for used cars, this would be to check for any mechanical faults in operation.
Either way, to do so would be illegal with most existing long-term insurance plans. Temporary car insurance is a must for test-driving other vehicles, to ensure that you can do so legally and without the risk of incurring additional costs quite literally by accident.
The Don’ts
#1 – Don’t Go Alone
This is an easily-overlooked tip for its innocuity, but important for your safety above all else. If you are buying from a private seller, you should never go without another person present. For one, the private seller remains a stranger, and being alone with them could be dangerous. More likely, though, is that your co-visitor will help keep the seller on the straight and narrow with regard to price.
#2 – Don’t Take the First Offer
With regard to used cars, sellers will always be looking to make the best deal possible. Always treat the price as negotiable, and you might find yourself coming away with a better deal as a result.
#3 – Don’t Kick the Tyres
Finally, a small word to the wise: don’t kick the tyres. This simple act is enough to demonstrate to any seller – private or otherwise – that you don’t really know all that much about cars. It tells you little, aside from the if the tyres are even remotely pressurised. What it tells the seller, though, is that they might be able to conceal real issues with the car from you, or even demand a higher sale price!