24 February 2012

Buying a new car? Get expert advice

Simon Elstow, a driver training specialist at IAM Drive & Survive, is offering British consumers valuable advice on what to look for when buying a new car.

Simon Elstow, a driver training specialist at IAM Drive & Survive, is offering British consumers valuable advice on what to look for when buying a new car.

The first tip Elstow offers consumers is to think carefully about the type of car they need before they make their purchase. Choosing a family car, a sports car or a vehicle that is able to deal with off road conditions will all require different specifications. These include variations in space, engine type and design. Once drivers identify their exact needs, they can begin to narrow down their search for the perfect car.

Estimating total costs and tailoring them to your budget is another essential step in the car buying process. When making a new car purchase consider how much fuel it will consume and how much the insurance policy will amount to. Drivers also need to take into account road tax charges for their particular model.

Buyers were also cautioned that they could easily fall into the trap of paying more for a car than the advertised price. Find out what the full range of additional costs are and factor this into your spend.

Considering how a car will depreciate is another key area that drivers should bear in mind according to Elstow. Research how much your specific model will depreciate after the first three years and consider how well it will sell on as a second-hand car.

As a final word of advice Elstow pointed out that running necessary car tests is critical to knowing how well a specific vehicle suits your needs.

"The new registrations are released in March, so some people will be thinking about a new car. If you are – buy a car with the latest safety technology and aim for five Euro NCAP stars. They rate cars according to how safe they are, with five being the best. But before you take the plunge, do the research,” he added.

Compare car insurance

Buying a new car will also mean purchasing a new car insurance policy. To make sure you end up getting a good deal, compare motor insurance prices online.