Buying first car process

kpizzle17

Hi all

Looking at buying my first car and have absolutely no idea of the process. I've done a lot of reading online and get the general gist. My question is regarding actually signing documents agreeing to buying the car - I'm going to test drive a car I've seen on Saturday; it'll be the first one I've seen and driven but if it all checks out and I like it, do I pay for it then and there or do I put a deposit down? Is it common practise to go back the next week?

Any help and advice would be appreciated, I'm going in there blind and would like to not come across as such!

19lottie82

Is this a private sale or through a dealer?

Private OR dealer, do you have someone who can go with you that knows a bit about cars?

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

There are obviously questions about negotiation, but assuming it is the car that you want, the process is roughly:

1) go and see the car.
2) Drive it. Drive it sensibly and legally, check that everything works, it accelerates cleanly, the gears change properly, the brakes work.
3) After driving it, check it thoroughly for marks. Open the bonnet. Check for spares.
4) Make sure the car is as described: if it has extras that attracted you (e.g. parking sensors) make sure they exist. The manual does not help as that lists all options, not this car.
5) Discuss what warranty, servicing, MOT and so on is to be included. This is a major purchase, so be convinced that the car has been properly maintained.
6) Depending on the reputation of the dealer and the sort of car, and how much of a strain on your finances the car is, you might want to get it checked by an independent engineer to make sure there are no secrets that an inexperienced eye cannot pick up.
7) Be sure that there is no outstanding finance on the car. Decent dealers will produce an HPI check for the vehicle anyway.
8) If you are happy, you will typically pay a deposit and agree a day to pick up. Many dealers do a pre-sale check so need time for that.
9) This also gives you a chance to organise your money. Paying can be as easy as making sure that there are sufficient funds in your back account and paying with a debit card; or arranging a loan with the dealer; or arriving with a suitcase full of £27 notes.
10) You arrange insurance before you pick up the car. Don't rely on "drive away" insurance. These days all you need is the reg. no. and the systems do the rest for you.
11) The dealer will typically go online and arrange the tax for you.
12) Having done the paperwork, they give you the keys, wave you on your way, rub their hands and get onto the next happy customer.

kpizzle17

Thank you so so much! I'm buying it through a reputable dealer and unfortunately do not have anyone who knows about cars to come with me (just my other half, who I think knows even less about cars than I do...). I've read about what to check for on the car itself and when test driving but the you've filled in the rest of the steps there, thank you again!!

forgotmyname

1st process = spend several weeks finding the right type of car your your needs.

Then narrow it down to a handful, Spend several days finding their common faults and owner problems and narrow it down further.

Then dont just test drive it, check for those problems or pay someone to check it for you.

Reasearch the prices that they sell for. Rarely will a car be worth the screen price. Also some traders have the cars on the forecourt at one price but will have it advertised cheaped in the paper on on the autotrader site.

Inner_Zone

First thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5300322

kpizzle17

forgotmyname wrote: »

1st process = spend several weeks finding the right type of car your your needs.

Then narrow it down to a handful, Spend several days finding their common faults and owner problems and narrow it down further.

Then dont just test drive it, check for those problems or pay someone to check it for you.

Reasearch the prices that they sell for. Rarely will a car be worth the screen price. Also some traders have the cars on the forecourt at one price but will have it advertised cheaped in the paper on on the autotrader site.

Thanks for the advice. I've been researching for the past few months as to what I want and have narrowed it down to a handful over the past week in the run up to my test (I need to be driving ASAP). Is it worth paying for the AA check thing (think it's £145 or so) to get it checked over properly?

SilverSaloon

kpizzle17 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I've been researching for the past few months as to what I want and have narrowed it down to a handful over the past week in the run up to my test (I need to be driving ASAP). Is it worth paying for the AA check thing (think it's £145 or so) to get it checked over properly?

Do you have a local small garage that would be willing to go with you to inspect the car for a fee? that would be better than an AA inspection.