Gals Guide – Womens Guide to Buying Cars
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Take Control
Before you decide what car to buy, there's a lot you can do from the comfort of your own home.
Money matters
How much are you going to pay for your next car? Decide on the figure and stick to it.
Where is the money coming from? Carsite encourages buyers not to haggle!
If you've got an existing car, you'll need to release the value of this to pay towards your next car. This is why a lot of people go to a dealer, so that they don't have the problem of disposing of your existing car. However, going to a dealer isn't necessarily the best way to buy your next car – so what to do with your old one? www.ebay.co.uk and www.auto-trader.com are direct sales options, but if you don't want to have strangers coming to your home, or test driving your car uninsured, or worrying about the tricksters out there, then you could use www.partxsolution.com. You can get your car valued on-line, and they'll guarantee to pay you that price – they'll transfer the funds to your account, and even collect the car from your home at your convenience. As they guarantee to pay you the quoted amount – you are now armed with the information you need to know how much you can spend.
Financial advice
If you're going to need financial help to get the car, check out what's on offer online.
If you're considering taking out a loan, always:
- Make sure your credit rating is good enough – get an online credit report for only £2 when you log onto: www.experian.co.uk/consumer/index.html.
- Check who is providing the finance – make sure they’re a reputable company – a brand you know and trust.
- Find out what the APR (annual percentage rate) is – does it compare well with what other companies are offering?
- An aggregator such as www.theaa.com is a good way to source the best rates.
- Try and avoid long-term loans or you could end up paying out on a car you no longer want or own in the future.
- Check out what penalties may be imposed if you want to pay the loan off early.
And finally:
Now check out how to find your next car.
Recommended Reading for new drivers
Maria McCarthy is the author of The Girls' Guide to Losing Your L Plates - how to pass your driving test, published by Simon and Schuster. Stylish and fun, it's a must-have for every girl learning to drive and will help you get the most from your lessons ans some tips on the best ways to win over your examiner. It also has advice on how to go about buying a car after having passed your test. Check out her website for extracts, including "Driving Instructors to Avoid" and myths "Myths about the Driving Test".
Websites for free expert advice
As a woman, you know how important it is to get good expert advice. Log onto: http://www.theaa.com/cbg/JustGoodAdviceAction.do for free advice and information about all aspects of buying a car.
Women are also known to take safety issues very seriously. For advice about all aspects of motor vehicle safety, log onto: http://www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety/advice/motorvehicles/index.htm
If you're considering taking out a loan, always make sure your credit rating is good enough – get an online credit report for only £2 when you log onto: www.experian.co.uk.
