All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Buying a car is a big commitment, and even the most level-headed people can go into a complete state of panic because in the sales environment it is easy to be put under pressure.
To buy a car, you don’t need to know anything about cars or car finance; you have to trust your judgment and ask questions whenever you don’t understand something. Follow these simple rules, and you should be on your way to getting a good deal.
Don’t Sign Anything Until You’re Ready
Signing a form in a car showroom, usually means you are agreeing to buy the car. You don’t need to sign anything for a quote or for the dealer to hold the price. The only thing you might have to sign for is to take the car for a test drive to make sure you are covered for insurance purposes. If you’re not 100% sure that this car is the one you want then don’t sign a contract. Make sure you have checked that the car fits in the garage, that your partner is happy with it, and that you can get a good quote on the insurance – do not be pressured into anything.
Never Pay Until You’re Sure
Equally, don’t give a deposit unless you are ready to buy. Giving a deposit is the same as signing a contract and essentially you agreeing to buy the car. You don’t need to pay a deposit for a test drive, a quote or anything else. So, you should only need to pay a deposit on a car once you have signed a contract to purchase it. Make sure you ask questions – as many as you like. If you don’t understand the answer, ask again. Ask someone else to explain it. If you’re not happy with the answers, walk away and get some answers elsewhere, even if you need reassurance that you’re not stupid.
Don’t Let Anyone Take Advantage Of You
The car sales process is cleverly designed, and car salespeople are well trained in extracting the maximum amount of money from your wallet as possible. You are led along a particular path, ultimately arriving at the destination of buying the car that suits the dealer best, using their finance and with as many extras attached as they can fit into your stretched budget. But they can only do all this if you let them. Turn the tables on them and make them prove that their car is better and that their deal is better than any other. Do your homework and have the information and the knowledge to compare it to others. Make them work harder to get your business by shopping around for a better deal. You should always be polite and reasonable, but don’t be afraid to tell them if they are not doing a good enough job at earning your money. Walk away and find a dealer who will treat you and your wallet with more respect.
Don’t Take Anything You Don’t Want
Car dealerships usually have a broad range of models, each with several different engines, gearbox and trim choices, plus a vast variety of colours and options. There will be some with Nankang tyres and others with Pirelli. There will be millions of potential combinations for any particular type of car, so the chances of a dealership having the exact specification that you would like – available and in stock – are usually relatively low. Instead, dealers will stock a selection of cars, often in the most popular colours, with more available in stock at other dealerships, or of course, you can order one from the factory to your exact preferences and merely wait for it to arrive. However, the dealer doesn’t want you to order a car or make them bring one in from elsewhere. This will be extra work and cost more, what they want is for you to buy the car right there in front of you because that car is costing them money every day it sits there whereas a car that they don’t have doesn’t cost them anything. It’s in their interest to convince you to take that car right there. Stick to your guns and don’t settle for something that you don’t want. Take time to think about it if you need to and get the car you want.
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