Buying a Car

Buying a new or used car can be a daunting project. There is so much you need to think about so that you get the right car, at the right price which will last for as long as you need it. Take a look at our car buying guide for some easy to use steps, to help ensure your car buying process is stress free.

Budget

Whether you are thinking of buying a new or used car, you need to set a budget and make sure that it is within reach, otherwise you could end up spending hours looking at cars only to find out afterwards that you can’t actually afford it. There are many factors you should consider when you are budgeting for a new car, the price of car insurance, taxing the car, whether it will need an MOT soon and although they are not essential, you should also consider the price of breakdown cover and warranties if you want them.

If you are planning on buying a used car from a private seller or garage you can usually haggle a bit in order to get the price down. You should also consider whether you’re planning on selling or part exchanging your current car, and how much you might get for that. If you are considering taking out finance, then make sure you take a look at all the available options and find the right finance deal for you.

Finding the right car

The right car for each person differs hugely. There are many factors you will need to take into consideration when you’re thinking about the right car. If you are unsure then have a think about the following:

What will you mainly use the car for? – Will you be using the car to commute to work everyday or will it just be used to do the weekly shop? If you are going to be sat in the car for long journeys then you might want to think about getting an automatic, or a car which has cruise control

Are you planning on having a family? – If you are, or you think it might be a possibility in the near future then you might need to get a car with space for a car seat and a pushchair in the boot. You might need to expand to a people carrier. You may want to consider more strongly the safety rating of the car (NCAP rating) if you are planning to have children in it all the time.

Are you more concerned with saving the planet and rising fuel costs? – There are now a lot more eco friendly cars on the market as well as new electric, hybrid and solar technologies being developed all the time. These cars will not only help save the planet, but with low CO2 emissions you could also be exempt from paying road tax and things like the congestion charge in London.

Diesel or Petrol? – These are still the two main sources of fuel for cars, and whilst historically petrol might have been cheaper, with the rising petrol costs it now might not be the case. Diesel drivers get more miles to the gallon, but will generally be slower at accelerating.

How much will it cost to insure, tax and repair? – If you are planning on getting a car with a large engine then you should be prepared to have bigger insurance costs, and maybe tax costs. Do you want to get a specialist or modified car, as that will more than likely increase your insurance costs as well. If your car breaks down, will it cost the earth to get replacement parts because it isn’t a common make or model or because it’s a prestige car, and can you afford those costs?

Contacting the seller

If you are going to buy a used car from a private seller then you will either have to contact the seller on their mobile or landline or via an email address which they have placed on the advert. There are now lots of different ways to find privately sold used cars, sometimes you might find them on the the internet, local newspaper adverts, car magazines or you might see the car on the road with a for sale sign.

When you are contacting the seller it is really important that you ask the right questions the first time as you will find out some really valuable information about the car and maybe even the seller. Make sure that you ask the following questions:

• If the car is still for sale? (If the seller asks which car you are referring to then they may well be a trader who is looking to sell the car rather than a private sale)
• Find out the history of the car. If it has been in any accidents, had any big repairs, had a number plate change?
• How many people have owned the car?
• How many miles the car has done?
• Find out why the seller is selling the car?
• When the tax and MOT expired?
• Make sure that the owner/tradesmen has all the relevant documents, logbook, service history, MOT certificates, receipts for work done on the car.
• Importantly, does the car have any outstanding finance on it?

Once you have found out this information and you are interested in the car it is always useful to do a vehicle check to see if the information the seller has given is actually true. You can now purchase a vehicle check from lots of different places, and it might be worth buying a bundle of checks when looking at cars as this usually works out cheaper. With one in three vehicles having hidden pasts, a vehicle check will provide you with a comprehensive history of the car, telling you if it has been stolen, written off, scrapped, has outstanding finance and how many miles it has done. Some checking services will give you another vehicle check for free if the car has been written off, scrapped or stolen.

Inspecting the Car

It is important that you arrange a viewing of the car at the seller’s address, at their home if it is a private sale, or at the business premises if it is a trade sale, you then need to make sure that the address matches up with the address on the logbook.

Always make sure that you arrange a viewing during the day, don’t be tempted to view the car at night, as this may hide some of the vehicle’s damage. Also, try to arrange a viewing when it isn’t raining, as water drops may disguise dents in the bodywork. You need to let the seller know if you would like to arrange a professional inspection after you have viewed the car.

During the inspection make sure that you have a check underneath the bonnet, and inspect all of the tyres as well as the interior.

You should ask the seller to see all the car’s documents including the logbook, past MOT certificates (if it is older than 3 years) and service history. Some key points to look for include:

• VIN number matches the logbook. This can be found on a metal strip at the base of the windscreen or under the bonnet.
• Check that the mileage displayed on the odometer matches up with the MOT, vehicle check and advert details. Discrepancies may mean it has been tampered with.
• Check tyre depth and condition, uneven wear will show underlying suspension or alignment problems.
• Check that all of the doors open and close smoothly and check for paint on the rubber seals as this might mean the car has had a respray.
• Check under the car for oil or water leaks.
• Check the engine for a white gunky substance which could indicate head gasket damage. If the engine is really clean it could have been cleaned to disguise this.
• Check the battery is rust free.
• Check the wear on the inside of the car. A lot of wear on the seats, steering wheel and gear stick may mean it has done more miles than advertised.
• Check that the engine starts first time and without a struggle.

Taking it for a test drive

You should always arrange to take the car for a test drive before buying the car, but you need to make sure that you are suitably covered with insurance. Be aware that you may only have third party cover to drive other peoples cars. Young drivers should be aware that some insurers do not allow you to drive other peoples cars so you may have to ask an adult to take it for a test drive. You can purchase temporary car insurance, and you should take proof of the insurance to show the seller.

You should always start the car when the engine is cool, as this will highlight any problems. Listen for rattles or excessive exhaust noise whilst test driving the car. You should test all the air conditioning, heating system, lights and windscreen wipers whilst you are using the car.

Try and go on as many stretches of road as possible, and include a roundabout, and a duel carriageway as this will help you to get a real feel for the car. You should go for between a 15 – 20 minute drive, but be aware that longer than this may not be convenient for the seller.

If you are test driving a new car, then you should ask the garage if you can test the car for longer, maybe a day or weekend, then you can see exactly what it is like for your day to day use, and you won’t have the pressure of a salesman in the passenger seat trying to sell you all the bells and whistles at the same time.

Getting the right price

If you are planning to haggle with the price of the car, make sure that you have good reason to. Most sellers will expect buyers to haggle and they may have factored this into their original price.

As a buyer you need to do your homework and find out how much the car is worth, there are many free car valuations tools available online. If you can prove to the seller that the car is worth less than they are asking then you may be able to use that to drive the price down. Before you buy the car, make sure that you get a car history check, as you might be able to use anything you find out as leverage with the price.

Any problems that you find with the car, places on the car which require repairs, reasons the car is devalued will also allow you to ask for a lower price.

Before you begin haggling, make sure that you know how much you are willing to go up to. Start the bidding low, and then let the seller increase the price to what they are willing to take, remember, once you have offered a higher price you can very rarely lower it. Stay calm and confident throughout the haggling process, and remember the seller may want to get back to you later to accept the offer. If you aren’t successful with the deal, don’t worry there will always be other cars on the market.

Haggling for a new car is definitely worth it as you can normally save a lot of money, and get some great deals with the equipment sold with the car, or services being offered. Here are some things to try to get the price down:

• See if you can part exchange your current car, this might not be as much as you would get privately but it could be more convenient for you.

• If you are getting the car on finance you will be able to get better discounts as the salesman will normally get commission.
• Ask for extra equipment such as air con, alloys, fuel, it wont harm you to ask.
• Haggle on price towards the end of the month, if salesmen haven’t reached their targets they are likely to give you a discount in order to get the sale.
• If a newer model has just come out or is being released soon then you may be able to get a better discount as garages will want to get rid of older stock.

What paperwork do I have to do?

When purchasing a car you need to make sure that you fill in the correct paperwork so that the car becomes yours legally, otherwise you could find yourself in trouble.

You will need to complete the V5C Registration Certificate also known as the logbook, in the correct places, with both the seller details (already pre-filled) and your details as the new owner. You will need to keep hold of the new keeper part of the V5C as proof that the car belongs to you until the new logbook is posted to you. You should take proof of identification with you when you go to buy a car, a driving licence will do.

Make sure that when you buy the car you also take with you the service history documents, vehicle manuals, MOT certificate and a receipt. You should create two receipts, one for the seller and one for you as the buyer, and both should include, the car make and model, registration number and VIN, mileage at the time of sale, how much you have paid for the car and acknowledgement of receipt of the cash, signatures of both parties and the date.