Treating yourself to a new car is the ultimate way to reward a multitude of personal achievements – from landing a promotion to finally listing those (surprisingly rare) vinyls on eBay. Taking home a car fresh out the factory is a fantastic achievement, but purchasing a second hand vehicle is surprisingly good value for a car that is as little as 12 months old. Did you know that one year off the forecourt can decrease a car’s price tag by around 27%? That’s a substantial saving for only a few months of breaking in. If you’re looking at buying a second hand vehicle, here are a few must-know tips for getting the best deal.
Shop Around
If you’re purchasing through a dealership, take a tour of the area and note down the prices of vehicles you’re interested in. That way, you can find the one you are most interested in and ask the dealership to match – or even beat – a price you have found elsewhere.
Get It In Writing
If you’re buying from a private seller, they are just as responsible for a clean and honest sale as a dealership, so remember to keep a copy of the advert. Try and get any information about the car in writing so that if problems occur in the future on the basis of the vehicle being mis-sold, the seller is responsible for covering the cost of fixing the issue.
Cash-In At Target-Time
If you’re buying a second vehicle through a dealership then you can often get a better price if you purchase at target time! Most incentives are quarterly in the vehicular industry, so aim for March, June, September and December to make the most of those salesmen hungry for a bonus.
Consider The Size
Did you know that as a rule of thumb, a smaller car is usually cheaper to insure? Luckily all of our car insurance packages are excellent value, so if you fancy something bigger then don’t let insurance prices put you off!
Haggle!
It’s not in our British nature to haggle, but in some trades it’s somewhat expected, so make the most of it! You can almost always get away with offering less than the advertised price. Make sure to ask plenty of questions about the services needed on the vehicle in the near future such as tyre changes, and reflect the cost of this in your offer.
Bag A Freebie
Some dealerships will claim that they are unable to reduce the asking price, so instead try and get some freebies along with your purchase. It might be a free valet, new car mats, a future MOT, or even a sat nav – if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Buying a second hand vehicle is a brilliant way of securing a great car at a fraction of the original price, and being smart about the purchase can ensure you walk away with an unbeatable deal. For an equally great deal on your car insurance, contact us today, and really complete the package!
