This is essential. Work out your monthly budget, be honest about what you can afford and don't forget that you will have to pay additional expenses such as fuel, insurance, servicing and maintenance.
What sort of car do you need?
This is also important. Do you just need a car for running around and doing errands from home, do you travel long distances, do you need an off-road vehicle to help pulling trailers, caravans etc.
Do your research.
Get as many buyers guides as possible, buy as many magazines as you can reasonably afford. Do as much background research on as many vehicles as you reasonably can. Time spent researching carefully now will save you money and heartache later on.
Decide where you want to buy your car
Funnily enough this isn't as simple as it used to be. In the old days when you want to buy a car you had two choices, you either went to your local garage or you looked in your local paper? Nowadays you have a multitude of options. You can either use unauthorized dealers, authorized brokers, you can import a car your self, you could use an importing agent and finally you can now even buy cars in large supermarkets.
Dealing with Car Dealers
Car salesmen are in a league of their own when it comes to selling. They are past masters at putting people under pressure with the sole aim of taking and making money out of you. Do your research now and it means that you will be able to play salespeople at their own games.
Check the small print very carefully
Just because you've been taken for a test drive in the car of your dreams and you have been sold the dream, don't get over excited. Before you sign any paperwork to do with your car purchase check out the small print very very carefully. Be very aware of what your legal rights are before you sign any paperwork and don't find out to your cost afterwards. Again time spent doing your homework carefully now will save you money and potential heartache at a later date.
