Buy A Car Guide By Auto Trader UK

How to Buy a New Car

 Buying a new car is easy. But it could be the second biggest investment you ever make, so it pays to do everything you can to get the best possible deal.   We bring you the essential guide to buying a new motor. 

1. Why Buy New? 

There are many advantages to buying a new car over a used one. You have the choice of any car you want with the exact specification you want. 

2. Identify Your  Needs.

There’s a huge range of new car models to choose from. So where should you start?Consider all your requirements. Ask yourself:

1. What will you use it for?
2. How long you expect to own it?
3. Are you looking for reliability?
4. How many miles do you plan to do?
5. Are you buying it for practicality, for fun, or perhaps a bit of both?
6. Do you want something luxurious or thrifty?
7. How much are you willing to spend? (Include other costs such as insurance, tax, services and fuel)
8. What type of model and manufacturer are you leaning towards? 

3. Choose the Model.

If you want to find a new car without the hassle of contacting various dealers, you can use our very own new car search to find it: Auto Trader new car search 

4. Phoning The Car Dealer

Always confirm the details in the advert are correct. This could save you a wasted trip. 

5.  Visit the Showroom

If you’re buying from a franchised dealer (who sells cars on behalf of a manufacturer), visit the showroom to view the car to make sure you’re happy with it. 

6. The Test Drive

Always test drive a car before buying it – this will give you a feel for it and raise any concerns. For example, the car might not be big enough for your needs, or the engine noise could be unbearable. 

7. The Haggle

There’s still plenty of room for negotiation on the price of a new car, and it’s always worth pushing for. 

8. The Paperwork

Make sure the registration on the vehicle tallies with the one in the logbook (V5C), as well as the vehicle identification number.

9. What if it Goes Wrong?

If things go wrong with the deal – like the car not turning up or not being the exact model you wanted - protest at the earliest opportunity. Follow the links below to contact a number of bodies who offer advice on action to take if you feel you’ve been hard done by.

• Office of Fair Trading
• SMMT Customer Relations Department
• Retail Motor Industry Federation 

10.  Imports

There are certain makes and models of new cars not available in the UK – this is where an import may be the answer. Importing can be carried out in a number of ways, for example:

• Buying a car from within the EU or the rest of the world.
• Carrying out the import yourself or using an import broker.
• A car available in the UK but its overseas model boasts added features or a lower price. 

Other BUY A CAR Guide by Auto Trader UK 

Where to buy a car

How to buy