Partnered Post
If you’re looking for a car right now, you’re far from alone. The coronavirus pandemic has encouraged countless people to secure a vehicle of their own in order to travel independently without the need for public transport. But buying a car can be a long process wrought with decision making. Here are a few different things you can do to help you to secure the exact vehicle to meet your needs!
Know Your Budget
Sure, we’d all like top end luxury cars. But when it comes to buying the best car for you, it’s absolutely essential that you keep your budget in mind. Everyone has an amount that they can spare towards a car, while making sure that they can still cover all of their bills and have a little disposable left each month. This figure will depend on your income and outgoings, so will vary from person to person. To figure out your own budget, you first need to figure out your salary after tax. Next, take away essential outgoings. This can include payments like rent or mortgage payments, energy, water, food and outstanding debts. The money left over is referred to as your “disposable income” and you need to make sure that it covers your car and general spending. Remember to include costs such as car insurance, road tax, fuel, MOT and servicing and maintenance costs into your budget.
Consider Make and Model
Next, it’s time to research. Look into a number of different makes and models of vehicle that fall into your budget. Factors you might want to take into consideration include:
- Aesthetic (how the car looks)
- Safety features
- Handling
- Size
- Number of doors
- Extras (such as parking sensors)
You will have to make sure that a car ticks a large proportion of your boxes to be suitable for you and your lifestyle. For example, if you have a family of five, a two seater, two door sports car probably won’t meet your requirements.
New or Used?
Next, you need to know whether you’re planning on buying new or used. New vehicles are desirable, but lose a whole lot of value as soon as you drive them away, as they become “used”. Very old vehicles are often best avoided, as they are likely to need costly repairs. Most drivers will opt for “almost new” vehicles with a good service history. This reduces cost but ensures that you still have a quality car. There are garages that specialise in this, such as a Used Volkswagen Specialist.
Can You Collect It?
You may find that you have to travel a distance to get your car. If you are unable, or don’t want, to do this, you should see whether your chosen vehicle can be delivered. This will help to ensure that you can actually get your hands on the car when you settle on buying it.
These, of course, are just a few things you’ll have to take into consideration when buying a car. This is a big investment, so don’t rush and take your time!
