Things to know before you buy a car
Buying a new or new-to-you car is a big deal.
Photo Credits Shutterstock
After all, it’s a lot of money and you want to know that you’re putting it behind the right set of wheels.
It’s also exciting!
You get to make all sorts of choices, from the colour and make to the extras (to aircon or not to aircon, what a ridiculous question).
Before you get wrapped up in the excitement and nausea around spending a ton of cash, take a peek at these vital tips:
Start looking online
Before you head out to the nearest dealership, start looking online. Make a short list of the cars that you’re interested in and then get Googling. This gives you the chance to read up on each 1 so that you only go out to view the options that suit what you actually want.
Decide between new or used
Used cars are increasingly becoming the norm as more people look for affordable options. Price isn’t the only factor worth considering, though. Here are the pros and cons for buying new or used so that you can make an informed decision.
When it comes to going new
- Pro: That brand-new-out-the-box car smell, the shiny untouched buttons, and knowing that you’re the first owner.
- Pro: New cars often come with full warranties, special inclusions like free maintenance and roadside assistance, and more often than not, lower interest rates.
- Con: A bigger price tag means a bigger monthly payment.
- Con: You might only be able to afford the basic model and miss out on the bells and whistles.
- Con: New cars mean a higher insurance premium.
- Con: Cars lose value as soon as they leave the showroom floor and brand new cars depreciate faster (35% for new cars compared to 5-year-old cars losing 25%).
When it comes to going used
- Pro: You’ll get a more expensive option for less money.
- Pro: Cars lose value as soon as they leave the showroom floor and used cars depreciate slower (35% for new cars compared to 5-year- old cars losing 25%).
- Pro: Older or used cars can often result in lower insurance premiums.
- Con: You’ll also get a shorter warranty period during your ownership, and often end up with higher interest rates.
- Con: You can’t always know for certain what the car’s history is.
- Con: More maintenance costs (older cars need a bit more work).
Check all the other costs (because there are lots)
There are so many more costs involved in buying a car than the monthly instalment. There’s also the cost of tyres, services, parts, insurance, and fuel to consider. Arm yourself with the right questions when you go to the dealership. Of course, you can do your own research to find the answers online but if it starts to get a bit much then get your list ready and visit a professional.
Here’s what you want to know
- Tyres: How much will the tyres cost you to replace (multiplied by 4).
- Parts: Ask what the cost of parts would be and how accessible these are to the South African market.
- Services: These have to be done in order to keep your car running, so find out beforehand how much it’ll cost you.
- Fuel: How big is your car’s tank and how much will it cost you to fill up every time?
- Insurance: Get a quote before you sign on the dotted line, because you need to insure it and protect your wheels. To help you out, just click here to get a super affordable quote now.
Time to view
Once you’ve done the research, you’re ready to get out there. This kind of research, together with your own preferences (like automatic vs. manual or sedan vs. SUV) will give you the confidence to look at the shortlist of cars that you’re interested in. Honestly, once you’re finished finding out how much the tyres, services, and insurance will cost, you’ll probably only have 2 cars on your list.
Then you’ll be ready to test drive. And that’s when the real fun begins.
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