Are you planning to buy a car in the UK? This post is all you need to know.
I’ve bought one recently so here you’ll find what I learned and what I’d do differently next time.
Let’s brake down the process into 5 steps:
- Ask yourself why you need a car
- Research the market
- Arrange a test drive
- Make a decision
- Legal boring stuff
1. Ask yourself why you need a car
This might sound obvious but it is actually very important to define your reasons to buy one because this will determine which type of car or insurance coverage will be better for you.
You could find that you’d be better off without a car if you in a large city such as London where parking is expensive. Furthermore, insurance costs differ a lot depending on your postcode.
2. Research the market
There are many websites and car dealers online. However, my preferred site is Autotrader. Here you can find loads of cars on sale in your area by simply inputting your postcode.
There are 2 main different types of sellers: dealers and private sellers. Dealers are more reliable and usually offer a guarantee so they are my preferred option. However, private sellers can offer you better prices especially if you are a good negotiator.
3 main variables I would focus on are price, number of miles and year of the car. Apart from them, it is important to take into account its MOT history (see next section).
3. Arrange a test drive
This is critical because it will allow you to detect any issues with the car: worn breaking pads, steering wheel, engine noises… Try to ask as many questions as possible: Why are you selling this car? How long has it been on sale? How many owners? When is MOT due? Can I see the service book?
MOT stands for Ministry of Transport and makes reference to a test of vehicle safety compulsory in the UK. Fortunately, the UK Gov has a website to check the MOT status of a vehicle and another one to check the MOT history. This is very useful to find any major issues with the car before even arranging the test drive.
4. Make a decision
Try to avoid making a decision on the spot due to a pushy seller. It is better not to close the deal on the same day of the test drive. Go home and write down the advantages and disadvantages of that car and compare them with the scenario of not buying the car.
5. Legal boring stuff
Boring but important so don’t forget to read through this. If you decided to buy from a car dealer company, they’ll probably inform you about how to set up a Direct Debit to pay road tax and what are the best insurance companies. If not, I’d use a this website to compare different alternatives and get a quote before making a final decision.
Road tax and insurance are the main fixed costs. However, sooner or later you’ll have to pay a fee to book your MOT test. It lasts for 1 year when buying second hand..
That’s all. If you have any questions about this process or anything related to car ownership feel free to comment below and I’ll try to help.
Drive safely!
ingepuertos 