11 must-read tips for first-time car buyers
Our expert has 11 tips to help you buy a good car that will suit your needs and pocket.
Buying a car for the first time is a big deal and can be challenging.
A car is costly, so it’s crucial that you make the right decision when selecting which car to buy. However, without proper knowledge, you could find yourself stuck with a problematic car.
We spoke to Robert Du Plooy, a Sales Executive from Pietersburg Motor Centre, who shared 11 must-read tips for first-time car buyers to help them avoid making costly mistakes.
Do thorough research
“Before buying a car, read reviews about it. Don’t just buy without doing your research,” says Robert.
“Many first-time car buyers buy a car because it is cheap, but do not check how much the insurance on the car will cost. Some cars might not cost much, but you find because they are a target for hijackers and robbery, their insurance will cost a lot. At the end you might end up paying much more for the car,” warns Robert.
Know how much petrol the car consumes, if it’s a high-risk car, how much insurance will cost and the overall maintenance of the car. Such things will help you determine if you afford the car or not. There’s no use buying a car which you can’t even afford to service.
“Also, ask if the car was involved in an accident. Some car dealers might not have all the answers, but you can take the VIN number of the car to a dealership or manufacturer and ask if it was in an accident and has a good service history. For instance, if you are buying a Ford, take the VIN number to a Ford manufacturer and ask them to assist you,” says Robert.
Get a pre-purchase inspection
“Although a car looks good, it doesn’t mean it won’t have problems. It’s always advisable to get a pre-purchase inspection to ensure that the car is a good buy. This is important, especially if you are dealing with a pre-owned car,” says Robert.
“If you are buying a car at a dealer, most genuine dealers take their used cars through the tests to ensure they sell cars in good conditions to their clients. Most dealers even have a pre-inspection that you need to sign,” says Robert.
You can get a dealer or trusted mechanic to do the inspection for you. Although this might come at a fee, it’s better to pay and get a good product than to be stuck with a problematic car.
Buy from a good reliable dealer
“Make sure the garage you are buying from is reputable and is not a fly by night. Even do a background check of their cars,” warns Robert.
Compare prices
“It’s important for first-time car buyers to not just go for the first deal they see. Look at the price and year model and check what other people are saying and selling it for. Make sure it’s a good price,” says Robert.
Comparing might take a bit of time, but at the end it could save you a fortune. There are also websites that do car price comparisons that you could use.
Determine what your car needs are
“If you are buying a car just to drive you to work every day, you might want to consider buying a small car that doesn’t consume much petrol. However, if you are planning to travel a lot with the car, a bigger, more durable car might be your best option,” says Robert.
Don’t forget to be mindful of where you will be driving the car. Some cars are better suited for gravel roads than others for example.
Buy a low mileage car
“If you are looking to keep the car for only a year or two, then the mileage might not be such a big deal, but if you are looking for a car you can keep for long, then buy a car that has under 200 000 kilometres. However, this will also depend on the vehicle” says Robert.
But he warns that a car that has more than 200 000 kilometres will be hard to maintain.
Do a test drive
“This is very important. Some car dealers will only allow you to test drive if you have a pre-approved letter from the bank, but it’s important that you test drive a car before buying it,” says Robert.
“Don’t make the mistake of just driving the car around the corner. Test if for at least for 20 minutes because driving it for a few minutes won’t tell you much about the car condition. Look out for any funny sounds, check the gears etc. You can tell a lot about a vehicle during a test drive,” he says.
Garage vs auction
Robert says buying a car at an auction might be tricky for a first-time car buyer.
“Although most cars from dealers come from auctions, I wouldn’t advise a first-time car buyer to get a car from an auction. It’s tricky for a first-time buyer to know what we look for. Some cars may be resprayed, and you wouldn’t be able to tell. You also have to compete with experienced bidders who might intimidate you. Then there are also registration fees that you will be liable to pay. So, I wouldn’t advise any first-time car buyers to get a car from an auction” warns Robert.
Get insurance and a tracker
Don’t take the risk of buying a car without insuring it first. Accidents can happen at any time, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
“Insurance and a tracker are especially important if you are residing in an area that has a high hijacking rate,” says Robert.
Remember to compare quotes from different insurers. There are websites that can help you.
Compare banks
“Many first-time car buyers make the mistake of asking for car finance from their banks, thinking that because they are a client, they’ll get the best deal. This is not always true. Sometimes a different bank might offer you a better deal."
"In fact, when it comes to negotiation, I would advise they ask the finance people who work at the garages to help them. They are better experienced to negotiate interest rates and they work with different banks on daily basis. They will do the work for you,” says Robert.
Always trust your gut feeling.
“If your gut tells you not to buy the car, don’t,” concludes Robert.
When it comes to buying a car on a residual or balloon payment loan, remember a residual loan doesn’t cut down your loan amount. Instead, a residual loan might even be expensive in the long run.
It might be difficult to raise the balloon payment cash and having to pay off the balloon payment with instalments will increase your loan term.
Read more lifestyle stories on ThriveIn.co.za. ThriveIN brings you expert help, valuable tips, uplifting content and so much more.