5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Your Next Car

A new car is a big expense, so you have to make sure you’re absolutely happy with your decision before you sign on the dotted line. Of course, there are legal rights for you as a buyer if you buy your new car from a dealership and want to return it, but it does become more of a complicated task if you buy it privately. To avoid any hassle or stress and to help you make the right decision, we’ve put together some ideas to consider before you go ahead and buy your next new car.

1) What’s your budget?

Affordability is one of the biggest factors when it comes to buying a new car. If you’re planning on buying on finance, you don’t want to overstretch yourself and agree to a deal that could leave you in difficult debt or without a car.

You want to look at all your outgoings and work out what is a reasonable amount to be spending on your new car.

You also need to factor in not just the cost of buying the car, but how much it’ll be to maintain it, have it serviced, what your insurance premium is likely to be and how much you’ll be needing to spend on fuel each month.

2) Do you actually need a new car?

Cars are built to last a considerable amount of time, and with vehicle technology becoming ever more sophisticated, the lifespan of cars is just growing longer and longer.

Buying a new car may seem like a nice idea, but is it necessary? Has your current car got irreparable damage? Is it no longer cost effective to own and run? Do you need to upgrade to a larger car for your family? All of these questions are important ones to ask yourself before you even go car shopping.

3) What car would be best for you?

There are so many cars on the market today, from SUV’s to small economical hatchbacks, and with all of their features it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you.

Consider what you’re going to be using the car for on a regular basis. If you have a large family and need to drop and pick the children ip from school, a larger family car is a good option. If you simply need a car that goes from A-B, is economical around town and can squeeze into small parking spaces then a little petrol hatchback is a good idea.

4) What is the MOT and service history like?

Looking at your vehicle's history is absolutely essential before buying it, because you don’t want to drive it for a few days and then have it break down.

Looking up the MOT history can help you identify common issues the car has had, and what to keep an eye on, while the service history can show you the car has been well maintained, (or not), by previous owners. Ideally you want to buy a car with full service history, to ensure you’re getting a well maintained and reliable vehicle.

5) Has the car had a history check?

A car history check, also known as a HPI check, can help you to see if the car you’re interested in has any unpaid finance outstanding on it, if it’s been involved in an accident or if it’s been stolen.

If you discover any of this is the case with the car you’re interested in buying, walk away from the deal as it could involve more complications down the line. 

Assuming that you’re buying from a dealership, they should have carried out a HPI check already, but if not or if you’re buying privately, you can carry out your own checks online to find out what information the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) holds about a vehicle.

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