What to do when buying a car

Few things in life are as exciting or rewarding as buying a car, if of course you make the right decision. There is so much to consider before putting your hard-earned money down on a car, and you want to make a decision that leaves you feeling satisfied. So before making that final decision, it is a good idea to consider a few things to ensure that you are in a position to purchase the car. These factors include what type of car you want (new or second hand), the condition, how much you are willing to spend, financing for the car, the insuring, and the car dealers you wish to buy your car from.

Here we will go over the three considerations to ensure that you make the most informed choice possible.

Affordability

The first thing to consider when deciding to buy a car is your budget. What you can afford and how much you are willing to spend on the car. A larger budget will expand your choices significantly. When it comes to second hand cars, dealers offer flexible prices, which means that even if your budget is constrained, you can still get something.

Although budget tends to be the determining factor when it comes to making purchasing decision, you should not only factor in the cost of the car. You need to consider other factors including but not limited to the following: the cost of down payments, service cost, maintenance costs and cost of insurance.

Finding the car you want

Once you have made a decision on how much you want to spend on the car, the other important decision you will have to make include among others the colour of the car, usage needs, model of the vehicle, the age of the car and mileage of the car.

Working with trusted dealerships

Owing to the mushrooming of second hand car dealers also known as dealers in grey imports (“car imports”), it has become critical that one makes a sober decision when it comes to deciding where you buy a car. In recent times, we have seen a rise in the number of dealers of car imports especially in urban centres and peripheral areas. While this is good development as consumers are spoilt for choice , the experience of dealing with a dishonest car dealer, unlicensed business can be a horrible one when you find yourself parting with money and having no car to show or worse a car that would not even reach home due to mechanical problems. It is common to see cars parked in backyards where they are used as a chicken coop owing to these dishonest car dealers. Dishonest car dealers use a range of tactics such as unfair, unreasonable or unjust contract terms to deal with consumers.

Some go to the extent of selling cars to the consumer when they do not have rights to pass ownership to consumers as the registration documents are under the name of a different person with whom they have a side arrangement.

They are also car dealers that play the role of agents only to go away without trace once the money is credited into their account and thus leaving consumers empty handed. Some of the socalled agents would even skip the country and find safe haven in neighbouring countries.

Consequent to the above, it is important that one needs to take time in choosing who you deal with when you buy a car. Carry out some research or due diligence to establish if the dealers are of a good repute, and are licensed to sell cars.

This can be done by talking to family friends or checking consumer reviews or by visiting numerous dealerships who have what you want, hopefully finding them at the right prices. The more you shop around, the better chance to strike a deal that will satisfy you.

Trusted dealerships can be referred to dealerships that are registered, licensed and trading and observing all trade legislations.

Tips to consumers when buying second

hand vehicles in no particular order

Do a full car inspection (exterior, interior, underneath and under the bonnet). You can engage someone knowledgeable in cars at minimal cost to assist with expert view on the quality of the car.

Check catalyst converter

Look for any signs of body damage which could indicate a previous accident

Check the available safety features, alarm, central locking etc

Inspect the car and its papers thoroughly.

Transfer Registration Certificate in your name.

Take it to DRTS to certify road worthiness

Get insurance, if any, in your name.

Adequate test driving required and a must do

Fix a car thoroughly before the first drive

Negotiate warranty, which should not be anything less than six months before paying.

Be careful of unfair, unreasonable, unjust contract terms.

Ensure that the seller possess the right to pass ownership by requesting to see the car registration documents before paying.

When it comes to second hand cars, dealers offer flexible prices, which means that even if your budget is constrained, you can still get

something.