Youve decided its time to get yourself a car. Its understandable if youre feeling apprehensive about that, youre about to make an expensive purchase and you want to spend your money wisely. Thats why it makes sense to avoid buying a brand new motor and choosing something second hand instead. Manchester is full of drivers who take great care of their vehicles, that means its also a great place to shop around for your used car, but where should you begin your hunt and what do you need to know before handing over your money? Read on for some great tips for newbie car buyers to ensure youre over the moon with your first ever car.
Work Out Your Budget
Cars are very expensive, even if youre looking for a used car youll still be parting with hundreds if not thousands of pounds. Therefore you really need to examine the money you have coming in and going out to work out what you can afford.
Write down all of your income and current outgoings, and dont forget to factor in all the money you spend on entertainment, clothing and food too. Work out how much you could comfortably afford to spend on your vehicle, factoring the cost of fuel, insurance and possible repairs. Once you have your budget you can begin looking at the deals in your price range.
Buy a Car using Car Finance
Theres no need to save up for months or years to find the money to pay for a car outright. If you buy from a dealership youll be able to buy a car using car finance. Car finance makes sense as it breaks down the cost of the car into monthly payments and it can help you increase your credit rating, something that will benefit you in the future.
Pick Up Some Negotiation Tips
If youre shy or lacking confidence you might be tempted to pay the full asking price of the vehicle. You can do this of course but its far better to be prepared to haggle with the sales person, they expect it. Check out whats included in the price youre being quoted and enter into the negotiating with a reasonable offer. You wont be able to get thousands off but you could save yourself a large amount if you negotiate like a pro. Here are some useful tips for first time negotiators:
Be polite and friendly
Do some comparison hunting online to find out what the same make and model of car is going for elsewhere, use this information to your advantage
Ask for a full breakdown of the price youre being quoted, you may find it includes optional extras
Salespeople often earn more money when they sell the extras such as car finance. If you were initially going to pay in cash its worth asking about possible savings if you choose finance over a cash payment
Vauxhall cars in Manchester can be found at respectable dealers, so its easy to avoid private sellers if you want some added security.
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