If your family is growing and you’ve been finding it hard to get everyone and their belongings into the current family car then it could be time to consider buying a new model. Having a family can be very expensive so shelling out for a new car is going to be a big decision. Make sure that when you have made the choice to invest then you consider these five points before you buy your next family car:
1)Invest in a car for the future – As your family grows and your children get older the needs of your family are going to change. Being conscious of these changes will influence your future car choice. Over time your children will take up more space as passengers, along with the accessories that they bring along with them. When selecting a car consider how confident you will feel about your children learning to drive in it. It will save you lots of money in the long run as you won’t want to pay out for hundreds of driving lessons when you can teach them the basics in your own vehicle and help them learn the rules of the road for free online too.
2) Set a budget – How much money do you want to spend? When you are providing for your family you have to consider carefully how much you are willing to pay out for such a big investment. If you are looking at buying the car outright make sure you’re setting aside enough to do so or if you want to get finance then shop around for good rates so you don’t end up paying over the odds. Look online to get a feel for the ‘market rate’ for the vehicle you’re shopping for. Don’t forget to think about things such as booster seats. If you already have these make sure they fit your next vehicle or else you’ll be face with another expense.
3) Consider car maintenance costs – Before you buy your car make sure you check out the potential on-going costs of keeping it on the road. The AA has some great information on its website of some of the essential regular checks your car will need. The first thing to find out is whether the car has had regular services, as this could make a difference in the value of the car and also tells you a lot about the previous owner. An owner who has had regular work or services completed is more likely to have looked after the vehicle. Look out for old receipts to see if they have replaced brake disks or cambelts before you commit to buying and be suspicious of vehicles that have needed a lot of work in the past.
4) Private seller or registered dealer – How confident you are with your knowledge of cars will help you to decide whether to go to a car dealership or a private seller. There is less risk when visiting a car dealership, however you may end up paying slightly more than you would if you bought directly from the seller. Don’t go to a private seller if you’re unsure. You can always go back to a dealer to query something after a purchase after all.
5) Check the documents – Before you make a final decision make sure that all the relevant car documents are in order. Check for the V5C vehicle registration document that shows the registered keeper, who may not be the owner. Don’t buy a car if the seller can’t produce this document.
Bear in mind these points and you’ll be investing in a car that will make a big difference to your whole family.