Have you been looking for your perfect new car? Buying a vehicle is a massive decision and for many people, one that can have a significant influence on your life for years to come. In line with this, we’re looking at the 10 steps steps you should take to help you pick out your new car.
When looking for the ideal new car, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Fortunately, the following 10 steps could help you make this all-important decision.
- Determine the essential features: Everyone has unique requirements for their ideal vehicle, and as part of this, always start your car hunt by determining the essential requirements.
- Choose a budget: Knowing how much you can pay is hugely important when looking for a new vehicle – regardless of whether you are buying a new car or second-hand. In line with this thought, try to stick to your budget closely once you’ve found a vehicle that you like. Remember to factor in other costs, such as road tax and insurance.
- Decide where to buy: There are many different ways and places to buy vehicles, including directly from car dealerships, privately through online listings, and the like. Deciding where to buy – and understanding the risks of each option – can help you choose the necessary next steps.
- Browse vehicle listings: Once you know where to buy, you can begin browsing the listings for available vehicles to help you find one that works for your needs. Be sure to compare listings with other similar models and vehicles to see how they compare in terms of price.
- Contact the seller: Getting in touch with the seller is a must to help you find the right vehicle. Reach out to the seller with any questions you have regarding the vehicle – and critically, make sure they are happy for you to see it in person before you buy.
- Submit a car history check on the vehicle: The next step you should take to verify the listing is simple: run a number plate check. This will highlight information such as whether the car has been written off, reported as stolen, or has outstanding finance details.
- View the car in person: Now that you are confident the vehicle is genuine, make sure to view it in person to check for any signs of damage – and ideally, take the car for a test drive (if this is possible from an insurance perspective).
- Agree on a price: Once you’re happy, agreeing on a price can be the next big step. Don’t go over your budget, but try not to mess the seller about either; doing so could make them less willing to negotiate.
- Ask for a receipt: After you’ve paid, we strongly recommend getting a receipt as proof of purchase, just in case something should go wrong. Most dealerships and businesses should be willing to provide this as standard anyway.
- Arrange collection or delivery: All that’s left to do now is to arrange the collection or delivery of the car. Collecting the car in person is often the best choice here from both a cost and security perspective, but this is invariably much more impractical.
Final Thoughts
By following the above steps, thoroughly evaluating all your options, and exploring multiple sellers, you can ensure that you get the best deal possible for your next car. Never hand over any money for a new vehicle until you’ve verified that the seller is genuine and transparent about the car. The simplest way to do this is often by running a car history check.
