What to know when buying a new car

So you have decided it’s time for some new wheels. There are a few things you need to know when buying a new car. Before you start looking, the first thing to do is set a budget. This isn’t just about deciding on how much you want to spend on a car, but should also include an annual maintenance budget.

You should also think seriously about the kind of car you need. Do you just drive around the city, stuck in traffic? Do you really need a big, thirsty 4x4 ute then? Consider your daily routine, and think about the fuel efficiency of your potential new vehicle. You might also consider whether an electric or hybrid car might be a better option.  

If you are not a car person, and you have your eye on something you really like, it pays to do some quick Internet research before diving in. Is the type of car you are looking at reliable? You can check on a car’s long-term reliability ratings with a quick search.

Insurance is something you need to consider too. It pays to get an idea of what a vehicle may cost to cover before you buy it, so you can avoid any nasty surprises. You can get an online quote from a provider like Trade Me to see what the premium will be. 

Will you need finance to purchase the car you are after? You can also find out how much this will cost with a quick online quote from a provider like Harmony. Generally speaking, don’t over commit, your payments shouldn’t be any more than 10-15 per cent of your monthly take home pay. 

Once you have found a car that fits your budget and your needs here are a few things to put on your checklist. 

Check the exterior – look for rust, bubbling paintwork, scratches, chips in the windscreen and panels. The exterior of the car can reveal what sort of life it has had. If it’s looking a little rough, the owner won’t have looked after it. More than likely, maintenance will have been skipped too.

Inside – look for damp areas or water damage. Sit in all the seats and check they’re comfortable. Make sure there aren’t any questionable smells. With all the recent flooding events throughout the country, there are more of these flood damaged cars about, so you need to be vigilant. 

Try the lights, electric windows, sunroof and mirrors, heater/air conditioner, radio and anything else that could be faulty.

The next step is taking a test drive! This allows you to check for any signs of trouble. Make sure you remember to:

Check the registration and Warrant of Fitness are up to date – if not, you could be fined while testing. If it’s being sold privately, check that the owner’s insurance covers you.

On the test drive, try the car on a hill, urban roads and the motorway to check performance.

On the road, feel how the car handles corners and take note of any noises, squeaky brakes, burning smells, vibrations, fumes or anything else that seems strange.