Shopping for a new car is something you’ll need to do every so often, and it’s important that you find the right vehicle to suit you and your family. But when money is tight, looking for a car can be difficult. The financial expense that a car can bring can be hard for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of income to spare on the running and maintenance of it. If it’s time for you to purchase your first car or you need to replace your current one, then here are six tips for finding a new car on a budget.
ASK YOURSELF – WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS?
Firstly, it’s important to figure out your needs when it comes to a new car. There’s going to be changes in your lifestyle that perhaps point at needing something different, whether that’s starting a family or perhaps downsizing to a smaller car because all your children have now flown the nest. It’s good to have a criteria of what’s needed, and that way, you avoid having no idea what you want when you start shopping.
If you haven’t discussed it with your partner, then take a moment to sit down and discuss what’s needed. You might find that you have slightly different preferences and needs if you’re sharing the car too. Make a list and iron out any differences between you and your partner if you’re buying one together.
That way, if you’re heading into a dealership, you can go in as a partnership, knowing exactly what you want. The same goes if you’re buying a car on your own. Knowing what you need and require is going to enable you to find the car that benefits you and not the bank of the dealership.
SHOP AROUND
It’s a good idea to shop around when buying a car because there are so many different dealerships out there both online and in a physical sense. You’ve also got a lot of private sellers and second-hand car sellers in person and online. There’s https://www.rileyfordinc.com/ for example, and the last thing you want is to buy a car and then realize you could have got it for a cheaper price elsewhere. Buying a car isn’t like purchasing a new mobile phone.
This car is going to give you the freedom of driving anywhere you want, but many of them come at a cost. You want to make sure that when you’re shopping around, you know what’s needed and that you’re looking in the right places for the best deals possible. Ask friends, family members, and colleagues for recommendations on where they found their cars, and you’re likely to come across the best places off those that have been suggested.
CAN YOU SELL YOUR OLD CAR?
Do you have a car currently? Well, having a car already can definitely help you with the cost of your new one. Just like trading in your old mobile phone to pay for a new one, you can do the exact same thing with your old car! Usually, the car dealership you are buying from might offer to buy your old car and offset any of the money onto the purchase of a new one.
You might also want to shop around to see if you can get a better deal by selling it yourself. There are lots of automobile trader for those who want to sell it privately, and it might be that you’re not going via a dealership anyway. Think about what you want to do with your old car and how much you think you could get for it. That might influence how much you’re able to spend on new car as a result.
BE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE
It’s important that you’re prepared to negotiate when it comes to finding a new car. A lot of us don’t like to haggle or try to reduce the price of something for fear of being rejected. But if you don’t ask, then you don’t get, right? When it comes to buying a car, there might always be some wiggle room in the sale price that the dealership or car seller has it on for.
It’s worth negotiating to see if you can get a better price, especially if you can prove that you can buy it cheaper elsewhere. At the end of the day, the person or company you’re buying it from wants to do their best in securing a sale with you. Use your customer influence as an advantage and see if you can shave some dollar off the price tag.
GO FOR A USED CAR
A used car is always going to be a lot more affordable than buying a car that’s brand new and has just rolled off the manufacturing line. Consider what options are available in terms of what type of car you need and make sure to look both online and in person.
There are so many car sellers out there that you’re likely to find a used car out there that suits your needs but more importantly, the budget you have available. With used cars, it’s important to make sure you’re not going for too old a car that’s done too many miles or is simply an old car in age. Look carefully at all used cars that you go to and see.
TAKE OUT FINANCE
Finance is a great way of spreading the cost, and like many other expensive goods, it’s a good option if you’re on a budget. Instead of having to spend a lump sum of money, you can instead look at taking out finance. A lot of car dealerships and online car sellers will provide this option, and if you want to hold onto your savings, then it’s worth taking out finance where possible. Make sure you read into the agreements and how much you’d be paying over time.
Finding a new car on a budget isn’t impossible, and there are many out there that can be right for you.
Photo Credit: Lexus
