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Are you looking to buy a car? This is a huge financial decision to make and one that you need to get right. The car that you have can have a huge impact on your lifestyle, especially if you use your car every day. Time and time again, motorists make the same mistakes when buying a car and this can have a huge impact on their entire life and not just from a financial standpoint. Being aware of what these mistakes are should help you to avoid them and know how to go about finding the right car for your needs.
Not Thinking Ahead
Purchasing a car is a major decision as most people keep hold of the same car for several years. This means that in addition to now, you also need to think about what your lifestyle will be like in five years’ time. You’ll need to think about if you’ll have a kid or add to your family, whether or not you will get a pet and what your storage needs might be in the future. You don’t want to have to buy a car again in a year’s time, so you should always think ahead when buying a car.
Not Calculating The Cost Of Ownership
Whether you are buying new or used, you need to think beyond the cost of the car itself. Keeping a car up together and on the road is a major cost when you have to cover finance payments, insurance, petrol, road tax and maintenance. This is why you need to calculate the total cost of ownership for a car and factor these into your budget – there are handy online tools that can do this for you.
Buying Privately
Buying from a private seller may be cheaper, but is also risky as used car scams are common. Instead, you should always buy from a reliable used car dealership like Carlton Garage. This allows you to browse a wide selection of second-hand cars that will have been checked over, plus you will be able to arrange a finance deal, which will be much easier than paying the cost upfront.
Not Getting A Mechanic’s Assessment
Purchasing a car is a significant financial decision, but unless you are a mechanic, it is hard to know what the condition of a used car is like. This is why it is always worth getting a mechanic to inspect the car before making a decision, as they will be able to inform you as to whether or not it is a good car to invest in.
Skipping The Test Drive
These days, people often skip the test drive, which is a massive risk. Test driving the car allows you to put it through its paces and make sure that there are no problems, plus it also gives you the chance to see if it’s a car that you enjoy driving and feel comfortable in.
These are a few of the most common mistakes that you will want to avoid at all costs when it comes to buying a car, and this should help you to find what you are looking for.