Buying a brand new car should be a thrill, not a stressful experience. It’s not hard to find the car that perfectly suits your needs and has all of the features you want, as long as you do the right planning and research ahead of time. Keep your options open and follow these tips if you want to score your dream drive.
1. Make sure you can go the distance. When scouting out a new car, you’ll need to ensure that you can get it from it’s original location over to your driveway. Don’t let the possible move narrow down your choices, though. There are high-quality interstate vehicle transport services that can ensure that your ideal car can be shipped over to you from anywhere in the country, so you’re free to search far and wide for the perfect fit.
2. Make a list of the essentials. There will probably be a certain list of features that are absolute necessities for you. These may be particular safety features, capacity size, the level of fuel economy you can expect from the car, or utility space. Make a list of the non-negotiable features that you absolutely need – this will make it easy to rule out options while you search, and will provide dealerships with a useful guide to use when offering advice.
3. Be clear on your budget. If you have a set budget for your month already, you can probably work out fairly easily how much you can afford to spend on your new car. Apply for loan preapproval if you’re going to use car financing to make the purchase so that you know how much you’ll be looking at in terms of repayments before you begin shopping. Have a set budget in mind before you look at any cars so that you’re not tempted into breaking the bank when you spot a shiny set of wheels.
4. Keep an open mind. Some of us develop brand loyalty over the years when it comes to cars, but this can be restrictive when the time comes to find something new. Do some research and check out which brands and models are best for various types of driving, and don’t be afraid to test drive something outside of your comfort zone.
5. Consider a used car. If your budget is slightly tighter than you had hoped and all of the new cars on the market are looking a little too expensive, why not consider trying out a used car instead? If you decide to go down the used route, research which cars tend to depreciate more slowly to get the best deal for your money, and ensure that you’re covered by a warranty in case anything should go wrong.
6. Work the extras into your budget. Many first time car buyers make the mistake of only factoring in the initial cost of the vehicle, neglecting the long term running costs. Factor all of the extras into your budget, including taxes and fees involved in the purchase, insurance payments and fuel costs. You may be able to cut costs in some of these areas by shopping around for good deals on insurance or opting for a car that’s light on fuel consumption, but do the maths before you finalize your budget.
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