The three golden rules to remember when buying a car

For the majority of people, buying a car represents the second biggest investment we make in our lives (after purchasing a home). Given how important and integral cars have become in modern life, it is essential you choose the right model that fits your lifestyle and your requirements (plus those of your family, if appropriate).

Three tips for choosing the vehicle that’s right for you

While price is almost always a deciding factor in buying a car, there are some equally important points you should bear in mind to help sway you in the direction of the right vehicle for you. Whether you are buying second-hand or brand new, here are some key considerations to think about.

Check the build quality

The quality of a new car should be less of an issue these days, but it can be vitally important when buying second-hand (particularly if you buy privately or online). If you want complete peace of mind, you should think about buying from a reputable dealer, like this company that specialises in used cars in Basildon.

Alternatively, if you are buying privately, you must thoroughly check the paperwork and service history. Also, when you go to see the car, make sure the address you are viewing at corresponds with the address in the logbook. It is quite common for fraudsters to pose outside a home to make you think they live there in the hope of selling a vehicle with a potentially chequered past.

You should also thoroughly inspect the car for signs of damage or touch-up work and make sure you take it for a test drive to evaluate its handling and get a chance to check the gears, engine, brakes and so on. There are multiple used car checklists online to help you.

Think about running and ownership costs

The price you pay for a car is normally a mere fraction of the price of ownership. Over time a car will inevitably depreciate (this is far quicker with new cars); however you should also take account of running costs like repairs, maintenance, fuel, tax and insurance.

Less powerful cars will reduce insurance costs, but you should also think about fuel consumption – particularly bearing in mind the type of journey you make most frequently. For example, most cars have lower fuel consumption on longer, motorway-type trips, but if you tend to use a car as a city runabout, you may find the consumption rates can vary hugely from model to model.

Lastly, consider how easy it will be to repair the car if something fails or goes wrong. If you buy an ageing, obscure model of vehicle, it will likely prove considerably more difficult (and expensive) to find replacement parts.

Consider reliability issues

Reliability is one of the most important factors when buying a car so you should investigate any known or potential reliability issues in the model you are considering and also check online for reviews from other owners. You will also find multiple internet guides to help you choose the most reliable car makes and models.

Reliability is especially important when buying a used car. However, if buying new, you should ensure the vehicle comes with some form of warranty – normally three years or 36,000 miles but sometimes up to 10 years and 100,000 miles.