What Every Potential Buyer Should Know Before Purchasing a New Car

by on March 4, 2010

You have done all the research, you know which type of car you would like to buy, you have worked out the budget and prepared all of the finance, however where should you go to buy your new car or used car? With so many different ways to buy a car, what are the options and where is the best place to go that will suit you.

Main or Independent Dealers

Main automobile dealers provide you with new or new low mileage vehicles. You may consider checking out the main dealers first if that is the type of car you are looking for as they provide better service and adhere to consumer rights. You are actually well protected with main dealers, though you do pay a bit more for the car.

Older vehicles are best found at independent dealers. The service and quality will certainly vary on the place you go, so it is best to do a little research about the warranty terms and conditions before you go.

Classifieds for Cars

Looking through the private classifieds can be a great way to find a bargain, however be careful as many unscrupulous sellers can be lurking in the pages, along with traders posing as private sellers.

You have fewer consumer rights when buying privately, so keep a copy of the advert as evidence of claims made by the owner and make sure the vehicle you are looking to buy is from the same address as listed on the V5, so you can find the seller again if anything goes wrong

The Car Supermarket

Supermarkets in which cars are sold are becoming more popular thus there are numerous places to go, probably close to your location. The prices at these places tend to be less, thus negotiation is unneeded. However, you get a lower trade in value for the car you currently have.

Car supermarkets do carry a lot of stock so you will probably find quite a few different models that you are looking for, so look out for beneficial optional extras like xenon headlights, air conditioning and alloy wheels.

Auctions for Cars

Auctions that sell cars have changed over the years to be better places to find a low mileage car. These vehicles are now offered with guarantees in case mechanical issues arise. Still, when buying from an auction consumer rights are less and while you can find a deal you need to check the vehicle for any issues before placing a bid.

The Internet

Online has become a power house for buying almost everything we need. Even dealers have online sites for vehicles so you can look at the specs and pictures of a vehicle before you go to see it. Ebay is even a place to get a vehicle.

The feedback system on Ebay is a good way to gauge the reliability of the seller, so be wary of sellers with only a few or poor ratings. Remember though, that if you have the wining bid and the vehicle is accurately described, you will be legally obliged to buy it.

One of the most popular optional extra available on modern cars is a pair of factory fitted Xenon Bulbs. However if your new vehicle does not have this option fitted as standard you can easily upgrade your Headlight Bulbs to produce a brighter xenon light with a pair of retro fit upgrade bulbs.