This page provides links to car brokers, car selling sites and car dealers as well as links to other areas of the site dealing with Car Finance, Insurance and related aspects of car buying. Car classified sites and auctions provide a useful way of sourcing second-hand and used cars. The link to motor manufacturers allows you to look at new cars on the web. Car brokers are useful in obtaining a discount. The Car Valuation and Car Data Check services provide a guide on what to pay and whether the car you are considering has a good history.

Helpful Hints - Car Buying Online

Choosing a car is dictated by 3 basic factors – your budget, your needs and your desires. Each of these will have a bearing on your choice of new and used cars.

The internet is a great place to plan your car purchase free from the hype and pressure of the car dealership and the salesmen within. It is now possible to source and buy your car entirely online, however it is recommended to test-drive any potential purchase buying as this is the only sure way of making sure it is comfortable and will ultimately meet your motoring needs.

In deciding what you need there are many excellent sites providing professional advice, many of which you can find links for on this page and site.

Your Budget

• Be sensible, know what you can afford to pay
  
• Use loan comparison tools to find the best loan rates and know what you can afford to borrow and re-pay over a given time period
  
• Compare this to any alternative offer that your dealer might give you
  
• Use valuation guides for used cars and magazines such as What Car for new cars and have an idea of what the price you should expect to pay as discounts are often there for the asking on many cars if you take the trouble to find out
  
• Can you get more metal for your money by buying a used car? Look at car manufacturer sites for details of their approved used schemes or through the classified sites such as Autotrader and Desperateseller amongst others
  
• Use the insurance quote tools to obtain a sample quote on a car you are considering as for certain drivers and cars this may be a very large expense – and one that is necessary to quantify before any car purchase is made
  
• Always check any used car throuoghly having read a guide to inspections from any of the available guides, before you agree a deal, especially if buying privately.
  
• DO NOT FORGET WHEN BUYING A USED CAR TO GET A DATA CHECK TO FIND ANY HIDDEN HISTORY SUCH AS CLOCKING, ACCIDENT DAMAGE OR OUTSTANDING FINANCE – THE COST IS WORTH IT AND IF YOU FIND ANYTHING – WALK AWAY !!!!!!

• A two-seater coupe may be the car of your dreams, but will it take your children on holiday or pull a boat? Do you really want a 3 litre petrol engine when you are driving 20,000 miles a year?
  
• Use car chooser guides such as Wisebuyers, Verdict On Cars or What Car who provide tools for finding cars based on requirements like seating, engine size and budget.
  
• There has never been a time where more choice is available to both the new and used car buyer so you need not end up with a “boring car” simply because you have 2 children and a dog!
  
• Do you need a new car for peace of mind? Would you prefer a used car for greater choice and lower depreciation?
  Think carefully when choosing and you will have a car that is best suited to your needs

Your Desire

• Despite the necessity of owning a car to many people, buying a car (either a new or used car) is an emotional decision and the ownership experience one that can be filled with pride and enjoyment
  
• There are now so many alternatives in each market sector that it is possible to buy a desirable car (new or used) and satisfy that ownership “itch”
  
• Be rational, think about the re-sale value of the car, look at the depreciation of all the cars you might consider as the alternative in the buying guides, as the lower the depreciation the less a car actually costs you to own when you come to trade it in.

All of the information you need to choose and buy your new or used car is out there on the net. Hopefully this page will have some or all of what you need but don’t be afraid to look further. The more informed you are the better your choice of car will be.

Happy Car Buying!!