Get your finances in order

So you have decided which car you want to buy, next comes the buying process.

I can't stress enough how important it is to have your finances in order prior to buying a car from a dealer or a private seller. Once you know your budget, then you are in a position to negotiate a purchase price on your terms.

Buy a car privately or from a dealer?

The safest and most uncomplicated way to buy a car is from a licensed car dealer. The laws
ensure that cars sold by dealers are not stolen, do not have money owing on them, they are
safe to drive on the road and come with a warranty.

That being said, that doesn't mean that there are dealers out there who won't bend the laws
when it comes to selling a car. In general, car dealers which sell brand new cars (cars with zero or delivery mileage) will be less likely to pull a blindfold over you than those who don't.

I have seen cars purchased from new car dealers which turn out to be written off and repaired. So be warned and tread carefully, these risks are real and they do exist, though are less likely.

Which car to buy?

Having worked in the auto industry, the question I am often asked is, which car is the one to buy?

My response always leads to the following questions. What do you need the car for? What features are you after? How much do you want to spend?

This is understandable due to the many brands and vehicles on offer which can often be overwhelming and confusing.