Top 5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Car
Buying a new car is a big investment, and you want to make sure it’s the right choice. You don’t want to make a rash decision just because you desperately need a new car, or you really want an upgrade. Here’s some ideas of the most important questions you can ask yourself whether you’re buying from a dealership or a private seller.
1) Will it meet your needs?
There are a plethora of options in the used car market. A lot of them offer different features, from driver and safety assistants to advanced infotainment systems.
You need to think about what you’ll be needing the car for on an everyday basis, is it to ferry the children around, for your long commute to work or for harsher off road environments?
Consider basic things such as how many passengers you need to carry, what kind of fuel economy you’d like, the features you’d like, and how much luggage capacity you need.
Make sure you seriously consider this before handing any money over, especially to a private seller as you won’t have the same level of legal protection as you would with a dealership.
2) Can you afford it?
If you’re looking to buy your next car on finance, you need to be realistic about your budget and how much leftover income you have to put towards a car each month as well as the maintenance of it. You’ll also need to consider how much it’s going to cost to tax and insure, in addition to fuel costs.
PCP (personal contract purchase) monthly payments are generally cheaper in comparison to other finance options such as HP (hire purchase) as a large chunk of the payment is deferred to the end of the agreement.
3) What is the car's history?
Especially when buying a used car, knowing the history is essential. Some of the main things to look out for are:
- MOT history
This is so you can see what common faults the car has had and what kind of problems are likely to come up in the future.
-Service history
You want to check if the car has been maintained in line with the manufacturers service schedule and how regularly it’s been serviced. A car that’s been regularly serviced has likely been cared for overall a lot better compared to one with flimsy service history.
-How many previous owners the car has had
More owners means potentially higher mileage and a car that has been exposed to a number of different driving styles, affecting the condition of the car.
-Whether it’s been involved in a crash
You want to visually inspect the car for any mismatching coloured body panels, anything that looks more modern than the rest of the car or uneven areas such as the doors or the bonnet. If you’re buying from a private seller they should provide the repair bills, and if you’re buying from a dealership they’ll state whether it’s category A,B,C,D, N or S. Visit the GOV.UK website to see what each category means.
-Does it have any outstanding finance
If a car has outstanding finance on it, the car can’t be legally sold as the legal owner will be the finance lender. If you do buy a car with outstanding finance, there’s a chance it could be repossessed by the bank or finance company who provided finance on the car.
4) Are all the documents present?
The most important document you should be looking for when buying a car is the V5C. This is a document that details the current owners details, and if they’re the registered keeper of the car and that they can legally sell it.
It’s essential to make sure all the details match such as the vehicle identification number, registration, engine number and colour of the car.
Also look out for a watermark to ensure it’s not a fake document.
Other essential documents to look out for are the MOT certificate and service history.
5) Are you satisfied with its overall condition?
Every used car will likely have wear and tear due to its age, however you need to be sure the car is as described. Ensure certain things such as the air conditioning, lights, infotainment system etc operate properly. You also want to check the condition of the tyres, any unusual sounds when you turn the car on or take it for a test drive and if all the safety equipment such as the seatbelts are in good condition and working.
At Essex Car Company we provide video viewings on request for all our vehicles before you buy online. If you choose to collect your car or have it delivered, all our cars come with 3 months warranty and you have extra protection when buying from a dealer.
If you’re in the market for a used car in Essex, take a look at our stock of over 150 cars today.