If you’re thinking of buying a new car, there are several factors to consider before getting started. After buying a house, remember that this may be the biggest purchase you will ever make, so do not make a rash decision. 

Firstly, consider the style and model of car you will need to suit your or your family’s needs. It makes sense to do as much research as possible, so check out authoritative websites or specialist publications such as Autotrader, which has a comprehensive database of new and second hand cars for sale. 

Alternatively, you might wish to get in touch with a card dealer direct, for expert advice. When you decide on the right new car for you, then you need to work out your payment options, which could be anything from part exchange car trading to finance or credit deals. Either way, a reputable car shop or auto trader will be able to assist you with your car purchase, as well as giving you advice on car servicing and future issues such as MOTs.

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There are many online companies offering car credit so it is essential that the buyer shop around to secure the best deal. Car credit online has the advantage of being easily comparable with other companies that may have been approached. It is possible to apply provisionally for car credit even before seeing the car wanted for purchase, because in that way one has definite repayment figures and a set APR which makes it really easy to stay within the parameters of the initial loan amount without being seduced into spending more than can comfortably be afforded.

Online car credit companies usually gives an on the spot decision and the loan can be held good for a certain amount of time, giving the buyer time to beetle off and secure the vehicle itself. The same is true of High Street lenders; car credit can be applied for and obtained provisionally with a shelf-life of, for example, two weeks so that a prospective buyer can car shop with confidence knowing the finance has already been secured.

Always be sure that any company offering car credit is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The final agreement for car credit should always be in writing and signed by a representative of the finance company and the buyer. UK law states there is always a cooling off period for credit agreements during which an individual can decide not to go through with the loan without incurring penalties.

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When deciding to buy a new car, choosing between a petrol and a diesel powered vehicle will most likely be one of your main decisions due to differences in fuel efficiency and emissions ratings.  The European regulations which define exhaust emissions limits are becoming stricter and new cars are being designed to meet these new targets.
 
Engine designs are continually changing, and so what might have held true the last time you purchased a new car might not hold true today.  For example, diesel cars used to be recommended particularly for frequent, short journeys; however, the DPF (diesel particulate filter) which is fitted on newer diesel engines needs longer runs at high engine speeds to clean the filter itself – meaning that most diesel cars now require a mix of short and long trips to function at peak efficiency.  If you usually only make short trips, a new car with a normal (not direct injection) petrol engine will be your best bet.

Many people are not aware that both petrol and diesel fuels now contain some percentage of biofuels (petrol up to 5% ethanol, diesel up to 7% biodiesel).  These percentages are due to increase as the government clamps down on high emission cars, but there are many people who do not see this as going far enough, and who will opt to buy a hybrid car to help reduce their carbon footprint even further.

Generally speaking, petrol cars are less expensive to buy; however, diesel cars often have a higher resale value.  The costs for general maintenance such as oil changes and tyre replacement tends to be about the same for both petrol and diesel vehicles. 

In the end, the type of engine you decide on will be a matter of personal preference and what best fits your individual needs.

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Second hand cars might be cheaper to buy than brand new vehicles.  However, they may cost far more to run and become very expensive to maintain long-term.  All cars deteriorate with age because they are complex pieces of machinery.  Many things can and will go wrong with a car after it has been run for several  thousand miles, even if it is a well-made quality vehicle.

There are things that potential buyers can do to help determine the condition of a used car.  Buyers can examine the car’s service history, the MOT test history, inspect the car’s engine, and take the car on a test drive.  However, these methods may not be conclusive about the reliability of the car.  Car owners may not be completely truthful or know the full history of their vehicle.  The car’s service history may have omissions, or simply may not exist.  For example, the car may have been in a serious accident and then rebuilt or repaired with a previous owner and there may not be any record.  A used car may seem to run smoothly during a test drive.  Regular driving or long journeys can reveal the faults a used car may not have displayed during a test drive.

With a brand new car, a buyer can be confident there are no hidden problems.  A new car bought directly from the manufacturer should be mechanically sound and reliable.  On the rare occasion that a brand new car has problems, the owner has protection by warranty for a few years after buying the car.  Car repairs under warranty are courtesy of the dealership from which the car was purchased.  Buyers of second hand car sales do not have warranty protection.

Furthermore, there is no need to pay for an MOT within the first three years of owning a new car.  Brand new vehicles are more fuel-efficient than older cars and cheaper to run.  Finally, a brand new car will have greater value than an older car if the owner decides to sell or part-exchange it later on.

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Purchasing a new car usually involves parting with quite a large sum of money and as such it is not a decision to be taken lightly. There are several key questions that everyone should ask themselves before choosing between cars, to avoid regretting their choice afterwards. 

Ask yourself whether your chosen vehicle fulfils every requirement you have. You may like to make a checklist of features that you feel are essential before you start looking, so that you know exactly what you want and can be sure that you have not missed anything. Do not feel tempted to settle for anything that you are not completely happy with, no matter how good the deal may seem. 
   
Next, consider whether the price you are being offered is the best deal that you are going to get. Different car shops and outlets tend to offer a variety of deals and promotions and you may find it easier to bargain at some places than others. It is a good idea to shop around and thoroughly research all of your options, so you can be sure you are getting value for money. 

Finally, determine whether there are any hidden costs that you should know about before you sign anything. If you choose to use simply car finance to pay for your purchase, for example, then there may well be additional charges. Taking these into account will allow you to determine the true price that you are paying and will also prevent any nasty surprises later on.

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There are literally thousands of used cars for sale in the UK.  Some are worth checking out, whilst others are simply too good to be true.  As most privately owned second-hand cars are ‘sold as seen’ it is worth knowing the essential signs to look for when inspecting a vehicle.

One of the first things to check is the tyre condition.  Have a good look at each tyre and check for uneven wear, as this could be a sign of misaligned wheels.  Whilst misalignment is relatively easy to correct, it should be mentioned to the seller.

You should be able to change gears without resistance or grinding.  If the gears do grind when changing you should be aware that this can be caused by a worn gearbox or clutch, which can be very costly to replace.

One of the most important things to check when looking at a vehicle is the engine.  Take the dipstick out of the engine and check the state of the oil.  If the oil covering the dipstick is sludgy then you should avoid buying the car; the engine might be damaged or it could indicate lack of regular maintenance.  Furthermore, the engine should rev smoothly and exhaust gases should not be blue.  If blue exhaust fumes are produced from an unevenly revving engine then expensive repairs will almost certainly need to be carried out on the engine.

Finally, always take the car for a test drive.  Try to get a test drive of at least 20-minutes so that you can get a feel for the handling of the car. 

Always remember the golden rule: if the deal seems too good to be true then it most probably is.

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So, you have finally decided to buy that new car, great, but what should you do with the old one?  You could sell it or you could look into a part exchange deal.

The most common part exchange cars deals involve a certified mechanic looking at your old car to see what condition it is in.  The dealer will then determine how much money to give you for it, and this can be used towards the cost of your new vehicle.

As an example, let us assume you decide to sell your existing car because the transmission is giving you problems and you do not want to pay for costly repairs.  The transmission might be bad, but the rest of the car is probably in great working condition.  Under the terms of the part exchange deal, you will be offered an allowance against the cost of the new vehicle.

You just need to hand the car to the dealer, so that it can be inspected in order that an assessment can be made of its worth.  The dealer will not take possession of your old car until its replacement is delivered.
 
You will almost always get more by selling your old car privately, but with a part exchange car deal, you can be assured you will receive a fair market value for your existing car when buying your new one and not have to worry about when the old one will sell.

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When you are in traffic on a busy road you will notice a wide assortment of different colour vehicles.  It is not simply by luck that different drivers own different coloured cars.  We each have a favourite colour, and the colour of your car might actually reveal more about your personality than you might believe.

The colours white and silver are relatively reserved.  They are clean and smart in appearance, and this would suggest that the driver appreciates a car that is relatively simple but also pleasing to the eye.

Yellow and pink are vibrant colours and stand out.  Drivers owning a yellow or pink car like to be noticed, and they use the colour of their car to help them achieve this.

Black is a bold colour.  Drivers who own a black car also like to be noticed, but the colour suggests a no nonsense component to their personality.  Black is a more traditional colour, it does not reveal dirt so easily and is often associated with quality engineering.

Red is a bright and bold colour.  Such a colour can enable a driver to stand out, but there is also an element of quality associated with the colour; it is a popular choice for car owners who are looking for something a little more modern than black.

There are many colours available for you to choose from, but remember that when you make your choice, it might just influence the first impression someone forms of you without you even realising it.

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With modern life seemingly making us need ever-larger cars, 4×4 and off-road vehicles have become increasingly popular.  Spacious and robust, but with good performance and safety, 4x4s are often the cars of choice for families as well as those who find themselves regularly off the beaten track. 

Once only found in the countryside, 4x4s are becoming increasingly common in towns and cities, as their large amounts of cabin and boot space often come in handy for transporting large families and shopping.  Some drivers also prefer 4x4s as their elevated vantage point of the road allows them to see more of the traffic around them.  Meanwhile, for those who find themselves needing either to haul items such as boats, caravans and sports cars or head off road regularly, 4x4s are often the only car option robust enough. 

Unlike most other forms of car, 4x4s usually come with highly efficient diesel engines as opposed to petrol.  This can often make them more economical to run than petrol cars of similar size and performance, although most models of 4×4 are available with a petrol alternative. 

The engines in 4x4s are also commonly converted to accept alternative fuels, such as AutoGas, LGP, or BioGas, or run on a combination of both gas and diesel, in order to increase their efficiency on long motorway journeys.  Special luxury editions of 4x4s that will mainly be used in towns are also highly popular and commonly produced by manufacturers.

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There aren’t many of us that can claim to be car experts, though we drive them every day and depend on our vehicles to carry us flawlessly from place to place.  When you are in the market to buy a new car and you want to buy a used one, there are some questions you need to ask and use your answers to make your final decision.

Whether you want a practical, used Fiat 500 or something sportier or larger in size, you can use the same questions to help make your purchase.  The generalities of buying a used car can be summed up in just a few simple rules that all should follow to make a smart purchase.

To begin with, look at the miles that are on the car.  Because town miles are harder on a car than open road miles, you should find out, if possible, what kind of miles were put on the car.  Next, the VIN plate number must be the same number that is on the engine and on the documentation to be sure that the history check is accurate.  If the two numbers don’t match, there could be a false history report on the vehicle.

Finally, do a history check.  This will tell you whether the financing has been paid off or if there is outstanding money due.  It will tell you how many miles should be on the car so the mileage on the dashboard should match the history.  This is also how you would find out if you are buying a stolen used Fiat Panda with the snazzy two tone paint styling.

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