When Buying a Car

1. Check the insurance offers – Read up on the offers that come with the purchase of every new car. You may be buying something cheap, but if it’s insurance that can only cover you for less than a year, then think again.

2. Ask about maintenance – Ask your local dealer about what it might cost you if you go to their shop for a simple change of oil procedure. The first 1000 to 5000 kilometers will usually come with free labor charges and sometimes the offer will also include free oils and other consumables that will be used in maintaining the car. Also try to get a run down on costs for spare parts just in case you need to invest in any in the future.

3. Ask about the warranty – The usual? 3 years on parts and services. In this competitive day and age, some even offer as far as five years. And if you are investing in a hybrid vehicle, you just might get luck yon having your parts serviced and replaced for free within the first five years of your owning the vehicle.

4. Check the car – Do the brakes work fine? Does it accelerate well? Is it comfortable? Are there any small knocking noises or tugs when you go uphill or when breaking on a downhill slope? Do all the lights work? Does the onboard computer work properly (if any)? Are all the safety features the kind that you imagined (seatbelts, airbags, side impact bars, etc.)? These are only some of the questions that should weigh down on your mind when you are test driving a brand new car.

5. Check the lease – Are their hidden charges? How transparent are the dealers with you when it comes to their offers? What banks do they support for financing options? Is the person you are dealing with a legitimate worker for a legitimate dealership? Read the fine print on every paper that is given to you. Don’t cheat yourself on a potentially great deal.