Increasing petrol prices and lower household income are both contributing to a 3.5 per cent annual fall in new car registrations during the month of July, according to new analysis from a leading organisation in the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that UK car sales have experienced their 13th successive monthly decline after just 131,634 vehicles were registered during July.
This trend has led people to look for better deals on their vehicles, considering used car sales at Evans Halshaw or other dealerships across the UK. With the need for a bargain in mind, here are a few things that you should keep in mind when searching for your next mode of transport.
Firstly, what do you want from your car? It may sound like an obvious point, yet you need to know exactly what type of car you need. Smaller vehicles are better for town driving, yet it depends on how many people will use it regularly. If kids are in your family or at least being planned, consider how much space you’ll need for them.
People should look to secure a dependable dealer over a private seller, as the latter – or more unscrupulous small-time dealers – may try to give you a bad deal. Buying privately also provides less security than a transaction with the likes of an established brand. While used car sites are handy, professional dealerships usually offer the lowest price and combine it with the best protection plans.
Consider running costs with a used car; with the aforementioned issue with petrol prices, it stands to reason that you would consider diesel cars, or more eco-friendly newer models. Older cars are usually less efficient, while many increase spending on road tax.
Before buying a car, be sure to drive it. For comfort and personal safety, take a friend and ask everything you need to know about the car. Friends are also handy during inspections, which should happen during the day, as they can spot what you may not. Be sure to check all documents and take down the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
The penultimate step is to do a HPI check to ensure the car is not stolen or with outstanding finance. Finally, prioritise haggling – you could get a stellar deal if you just put your foot down.
Valeria de Car says
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MotorAid BMW servicing Essex says
March 20, 2012 at 5:24 pmSome great pointers here as it can be a second hand car jungle out there. I would definitely go for the HPI check, this doesn’t take long and could save a buyer thousands in the longrun if the car is stolen. I have also paid for an RAC car check where they inspect the car. A thorough and professional check throws up any major problems before you buy the car, which means that at least you know if there are problems. You can negotiate the price down if you still want to purchase the car. Too often I have bought a used car that I thought was OK and it ended up costing me a lot of money, in some cases more than the car was worth. Always better to do as much research and checking before you part with your money.