How to save when BUYING A CAR

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Buying a car is a big undertaking; you’re shelling out a lot of cash so you most definitely don’t want to be stuck with a bomb. There are ways to make sure you get the right car for you and your family, and in the process save money too. Here’s how:

SHOP AROUND

Don’t be tempted by the first car you see. You may have seen the ads and you may think it’s the right price but it might not be the car for you. WA News Motoring Editor Sam Jeremic recommends shopping around, and we don’t mean online.

“Test driving more than one car will give you a better understanding of whether a vehicle represents good value, and you’ll also realise what aspects of a car you do and don’t find important,” he says.

GET THE TIMING RIGHT

According to Finder.com.au, you should consider buying a car at the end of the month.

“Plan your purchase, but don’t sign on the dotted line until near the end of the month,” they say. “Many car dealers operate on monthly sales targets and may be more likely to offer discounts and free extras around this time to help meet their targets.”

So get in while they are hungry for the sale!

SHOULD YOU EVER TRADE YOUR CAR IN?

It’s an easy deal. You’ve been eyeing that new car in the reputed car dealership and they’ve offered you money for your old car, right there and then on the spot. Should you do it, or are you better off selling it yourself privately via car sales websites? According to Sam, it boils down to money versus convenience.

“You’ll nearly always get more for your car if you sell it privately – quite possibly a lot more ‒ but the payoff is you can offload your old car and get your new one in one go,” says Sam.

SAVE MONEY AT EXGOVERNMENT CAR AUCTIONS

According to Sam, buying an ex-government car at auction can save significant money. But it does require due diligence.

“Generally, government and fleet cars are serviced appropriately, but be sure to check this is the case,’’ he says.

‘They may have done a significant number of kilometres though – the Australian average is 15,000km per year, so this is a good guide as to how hard a car has been worked. As with any auction, be sure to do your research so you know whether you’re actually getting a good price. Have a set amount you’re willing to pay and stick to it, and also make sure you consider other expenses such as registration.”

BEWARE OF UNWANTED EXTRAS

It’s tempting when car dealers start throwing in extras for free or at cost, to get the deal over the line. But according to

Finder.com.au you need to think about the extras you actually want before buying, and try to resist walking out with something you didn’t want.

“Some of the extras you almost certainly don’t want are an extended warranty, rustproofing and paint protection. A new car already has all of these in some form and these extras are often just a sales trick,” they say.

DOWNLOAD A MONEY-SAVING APP

Have you been looking across multiple websites to find the right car for you? There’s no need to keep checking, there are apps that can alert you when the price goes down on the car/s you’re looking at, or when new cars are listed for the make and model you are interested in.

Simply download apps such as Carsales.com.au and they will deliver the results to you.

DON’T GET RIPPED OFF; TAKE NOTE OF THESE TIPS, APPS AND NEED-TO-KNOWS FROM THE EXPERTS WHEN LOOKING TO BUY A CAR