You may think there is no mistake you can make while you shop your new car, no matter if you are buying a brand new model or a used vehicle from the previous owner. No matter what your decision is, you shouldn’t let your excitement mess with your ability to recognize the possible mistakes and your judgment. Many people made a lot of bad decisions because they wanted to close those deals quickly, without paying attention to many important things. One of the most common examples is quick buying without checking the features and failing to test the vehicle, before cashing out a serious amount of money for it.
In this article, we will try to cover some of them, hoping that you will learn how to avoid these wrong moves, and save a lot of time and money. These are some of them:
1. You don’t look for a car on the Internet
Source:thetimesweekly.com
The virtual space is full of online services that can connect the buyers and sellers, and they can make a deal. It’s always a better choice to click here on this sales website, or use the social media, to find the vehicle you are looking for, instead of buying a newspaper, contacting the sellers, paying a visit, and losing a lot of precious time asking them to send you a photo, trying to call them and find the place they keep the car. Most of the websites that help you buy or sell a vehicle will list all the important things, so you can compare the features and properties, the prices, colors, and models.
2. You are sticking to one exact model
This is a huge mistake, and you need to avoid doing that. It’s understandable that you have a favorite brand or some particular model, but there will always be something more suitable for you. It’s the same as clothes. You may love skinny jeans, shirts, and boots, but if they don’t fit you, you shouldn’t wear them. That’s why you shouldn’t stick to one model, and explore more until you find what you are looking for.
3. You are setting a too low or too high price
It’s always good to know your budget span, but when you are setting too high expectations, and the seller sees that, they will try to sell their vehicle for a higher price. Also, if you are not financially ready to spend more money on a nice car, you better wait until you earn enough so you can invest them in a four-wheel “friend”, that will be a good addition to your household. Also, you must be realistic, and not expect that you can buy a bigger model for a low price. Another thing you must avoid is getting manipulated by the sellers, and always insist on technical documentation, and of course, bring someone with you so you can both see the car. It’s better to take someone who has a good understanding of cars, so you can decide which one to buy together.
4. Don’t skip the test drive
Source:expresswaytoyota.com
Many buyers who are too excited forget to take a test drive, and they leave the sales place without even driving it for a few minutes. You must stop doing that. Experts say that you need to spend at least 20 minutes driving and checking it, so you can see if everything is fine. The seller must allow you to do that, and they will be with you all the time. But, if he or she is trying to make you buy it without trying it, there can be something suspicious and unclear, and you must always insist on testing. We will compare it again with the clothes. You are never buying jeans and t-shirts without trying them on, even though the size is suitable. The same goes for vehicles.
5. Accepting the negotiations that may look like a good deal
Sometimes, when the vehicle is more expensive than you can afford at the moment, the seller will try to negotiate with you, especially if they are trying to sell it equally quickly as you are willing to buy a new car. At some moment, they will offer a deal for monthly payments, that may look attractive, but you must think about that very carefully, because the final price may be much higher than the initial point.
6. Not renewing the insurance policy
Source:bestcarsin.com
When you get your car, you must renew the insurance policy and replace the ownership. We all know that we sometimes skip that on purpose, or just forgetting about it, but this is an important piece of paper you should always have in your vehicle, in case of an accident or some other unpleasant situation.
7. Direct buying from someone you don’t really trust
It’s always a better idea to find an agent who will connect you with a trusted seller, instead of believing someone on Facebook you don’t even know. Sometimes you will need to pay some fee for that, but the price of getting a good product that is safe and secure is not negotiable in this case. If someone is pushing, or trying to get more money from you, and you see it’s not worth it, you better say you need to see other vehicles and walk away. Even on the used car market, the salesperson should be someone who is informed and who knows things about the products they are trying to sell.
Source:medium.com
There is nothing wrong with your lack of experience, especially when you are buying your first vehicle. But, don’t let your mistakes ruin the excitement for you. Don’t make impulsive decisions, and always go to see the car with someone who is more experienced, or who knows more things about the sales, and business in general. This article covers just a few of the most common mistakes the new buyers can make when they are hunting for the best deal. But, always remember that attractive prices that look too good to be true can hide a huge scam behind them, and you must be very cautious and careful with that.
