Buying a new car can be fairly daunting, even for those who class themselves as car enthusiasts, car people or car experts. One of the first things you should consider before anything else is your budget. How much are you prepared to spend and how are you going to finance your purchase? Will you need any car finance or do you need to consider any car credit options? Also, think about the fuel costs, insurance and road tax as they all add to your purchase price.

If you already have a car to sell, you should take the potential sale price of your car and calculate how this can help towards paying for your new car. Are you likely to part-exchange or will you sell your car privately? Quite often you can get a better deal by selling it privately but part exchanging through a dealer can sometimes be more convenient.

The next step is deciding what car you would like to buy. There is such a wide choice of cars for sale today it may be difficult to decide, however your budget and needs will help you make this decision. Think about what you need a car for, how big does the car need to be, do you need a family car or a car that will carry many passengers, or are you looking for a small city car that is easy to park and requires less fuel? Think carefully about these choices in order to narrow your search criteria. Visiting car review sites such as Recombu Cars can give you the latest information on a wide range of vehicles, making choosing the right one easier.

Once you have decided on your type of car, the next step is to visit a dealership or car supermarket to choose what make and model of car you would like. Test drive your chosen car if you can as this will certainly give you a feel for how the car handles, if you like driving the car and, ultimately, whether it is the car for you.

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Cleaning the house, cleaning the car, there are so many jobs to do. However, cleaning your car need not be such an onerous task and the benefit of doing a good job means your car looks brand new and super-clean.

Making sure that you take time and care to do a proper clean will make the finished result last longer and will make your motor look like it’s just been in for a car service. So don’t cut corners, it really is worth the time and effort.

Start by getting rid of all that grime and dirt that the car collects no matter how long or short the journey. Your car will probably be covered with lots of squashed bugs, pollution, dust, bird droppings, etc. Although most new cars have a special coating that protects the car from the day-to-day grime, keeping the car clean should prolong the life of this protective layer, thus protecting your paintwork for longer.

Before you start, try to park the car away from sunlight if you can, otherwise the heat from the sun will dry the water and soap suds before you have even finished, making it difficult for you to get that perfect finish. Fill a bucket with water and, with a sponge, wet the car to try to loosen any of that stubborn dirt, then blast the bodywork and wheels with a hose. It is probably better to wash the wheels first and then work your way up to the bodywork to prevent any of the dirt from the wheels getting on to your clean car. Then, if you like, use some car shampoo that can be bought from any car shop, and give the car a good wash. Finish off with a nice, clean chamois and a bit of car wax for that professional touch.

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Every car over three years old must be inspected annually for road-worthiness, and, if found to meet the conditions required by law, will be issued an MOT certificate valid for one year. This is a legal obligation, and is an unavoidable expense faced by vehicle owners.

The cost of the MOT inspection and certificate is variable, however. There is a maximum charge of £54.87 for cars (£29.65 for motorbikes), but MOT test centres can offer a discount, especially if they are also giving the vehicle an annual service. Others may offer a discount anyway, even without a service, simply as a way of getting more customers.

Council MOT centres.

Many councils have their own MOT testing centres for their own council vehicle inspections, which are also open to the public. Mot testing at council run-centres is cheaper than at most privately run authorised inspection centres. Alsp, council-run MOT testing centres don’t carry out repairs, so, unlike some less reputable private centres, aren’t going to look for problems where none exist in order to carry out expensive repairs.

Repairs

As most drivers of older vehicles know, the cost of the test isn’t usually the main cost there are many places where you can get a cheap MOT test. If a vehicle fails an inspection, it can’t be used until necessary repairs are carried out. Normally, these are carried out immediately, allowing the vehicle to pass without having to go through the test again. The older the vehicle, the more it’s likely to cost in bringing it up to the standards of road-worthiness required by the test. It goes without saying that, while there’s limited flexibility in the cost of the test, the final expense of the test plus necessary repairs can be greatly reduced by regular maintenance of the vehicle, especially with regard to those areas covered by the MOT inspection.

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A recent study has revealed that an in-car car radio is safer than an iPod. Scrolling through songs is considered far more distracting than searching for a station, primarily because an individual has to look down in order to use a touchscreen.

Most cars for sale now come with the ability to plug in and play an iPod or MP3 player with an adapter. In addition, upgrades can easily be made by audio car servicing specialists to include USB connectivity or a dashboard screen.

Unfortunately, motorists take their eyes off the road to search for a specific track in much the same way as using a phone to text whilst driving. As most people now carry large music collections in smartphones and iPhones, the difference is minimal.
  
Concentration can also be lost when checking the speedometer, satnav or heat settings of the car. Looking away from the road for too long, regardless of the reason, is dangerous.

Modern life has turned us into car people, meaning that much of our time is spent on the roads; it is only natural to want that experience to be comfortable. Having the latest in-car technology is designed to make the driver feel at home.

These creature comforts need not be given up, but instead should be used safely and with commonsense. It is reasonable to have a playlist ready that will last for the length of your journey, meaning that you do not have to touch it again. Alternatively hit shuffle, enjoy the surprise, and be on your way safely.

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Being a car owner comes with certain responsibilities. These include making sure you have a regular car service, getting that MOT test done and taking out an insurance policy. However, each car insurance policy will be different and is normally tailored to the individual’s circumstances. It is therefore important to get some advice on which policy is best for you.

There are three different types of car insurance available. You may wish to choose a ‘third party’ insurance policy, which is the minimum cover required by law. This type of policy will cover any damage caused to the other party involved in the accident and their car or property, but it does not cover any damage to your own vehicle. The next level of cover is ‘third party fire and theft’. This policy covers the same as ‘third party’ but it also covers your car in the event of any damage caused by fire or theft. The third type of insurance policy available is a ‘fully comprehensive’ policy. This provides you and your car with the maximum cover available.

Although the premiums may be higher on a ‘fully comprehensive’ policy, think about the potential costs you may incur in the event of an accident with a ‘third party’ or ‘third party fire and theft’ policy. It is also important to check your policy if you are thinking of driving overseas, as you may find that your ’fully comprehensive’ cover in the UK only offers ‘third party’ cover abroad. Read your policy carefully to make sure you have the right cover.

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Car maintenance is an essential part of owning a car. Whether you have used BMW cars or used Audi or Saab cars or any other brand, all cars need maintenance. Ultimately, if you want to own your car for a good number of years you will almost certainly have to pay for professional maintenance at some point, so it makes sense to put in a little bit of effort to make sure that those costs are kept as low as possible. In the long run your car will maintain its original value much more effectively, and you will get much more enjoyment out of using a car that has kept its new look and feel.

Changing oil frequently is a very good way to keep the car in good condition. It helps to keep the engine in very good working order and reduces damage to the components of the engine by reducing wear on moving parts. Modern engines can be very tricky to fix if something goes wrong with the moving parts, so put in the small amount of time needed to change the oil. Many makers recommend that car owners change their oil around every twelve months, but for many drivers this is not adequate. Urban driving often involves many short journeys less than ten miles in length, and this places a disproportionate stress on the engine. In the likely scenario that your car is often used for short trips, it will certainly need more frequent oil changes. Try changing the oil every three to four thousand miles, and changing oil filters every other oil change.

Keeping paintwork in top condition is another challenge. When washing the car, avoid using any implements that have hard parts – brushes can certainly dig out dirt, but will probably damage the paint at the same time.

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Getting an MOT test is a simple but essential process. A current MOT certificate is needed in order to tax your car, and it is illegal not to have one. Unfortunately, whilst motorists receive reminders before their tax and insurance renewals are due, keeping an eye on the MOT expiry date is up to the car owner.

Maintaining the performance of your car and dealing with problems as they arise will help to avoid a potentially hefty car servicing bill and the potential cost of a failed MOT.

Choose an accredited garage to complete your MOT test. Certain dealers may offer discounts or even a free MOT service, particularly if you are a returning customer. There is an industry standard set price for an MOT test and most garages will not vary much from this. Whilst some will do an MOT test for a cheaper price, they may also add extra charges for car repairs or workshop time in order to pass your vehicle. Sometimes these costs are unavoidable, so it is essential to go to someone you trust in order to have peace of mind.

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Four out of every ten Britons suffer from a bad credit rating at some point in their lives. This can affect their access to a wide range of financial services, including car finance. However, there are a number of car finance firms that specialise in helping people with bad credit. They have much higher interest rates than other financial institutions and often require a large down payment.

Some of the firms that offer finance to people with bad credit include Credit Plus, which advertises itself as a second chance for people who have been failed by other car finance firms; it has been in business for over half a century. Other options include Bad Car Credit, an offshoot of the car loan company Car Loan 4U Ltd and Aspire Money, which processes over 55,000 loan applications every month and which prides itself on the speed with which it makes its decisions.

Before entering into any sort of loan arrangement, make sure that you use a car loan repayment calculator to see whether you can afford the repayments. Many such repayment calculators exist on the websites of financial institutions and those of most major car manufacturers such as BMW and Ford. These calculators require you to input details such as your monthly budget and repayment period and then calculate the monthly payment required. Be sure that these repayments are not more than you can afford before taking out the loan.

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If you want to sell, used car market research is essential. Some types of car simply sell better than others, and you should always view ads for cars similar to yours to find out what people are willing to pay in your area. It is best to concentrate on local sources and dealers as used car prices can vary significantly in different parts of the country.

Other factors to consider
These include the class of car (supermini, midsize saloon, SUV and so forth); any special modifications, such as alternative fuel types (LPG, petrol/electric hybrid etc); and the age and condition of the car. It is no use trying to compare your ten-year-old Fiat Panda to a two-year-old Range Rover!

Where to look
Possible sources of market research information include the classified ads section in your local newspaper, used car websites and looking around local car dealers. Preferably, you will look at all of the above in order to thoroughly research your car. Another good place to look is the Kelley Blue Book, which gives you an estimated valuation of your car.

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The internet is a superb resource to assist in the purchase of used cars.  There are numerous sites dedicated to every make and model of car, detailing all the positive and negative issues that have been highlighted on any particular vehicle since its manufacture.

Using the internet to research your prospective purchase is a particularly useful starting point, comparing prices, model specifications, user reviews on fuel economy compared with the mpg manufacturer’s estimate under test conditions.  The internet can also advise on how much you should be paying for your car.

There are numerous internet sites dedicated to advising potential buyers on the process of purchasing, identifying the best deals, the art of negotiation and making the sale work for you, rather than just accepting the price that is brandished loudly on the windscreen. 

The internet cannot tell you if the person you are purchasing from, should you be buying the car privately, is reliable and trustworthy, but can advise you on the main issues to look for that might indicate that the car is not all that it seems with many sites offering tips and warning signs that can be useful to heed.  This sort of technical and mechanical advice is essential reading for those who are considering buying their vehicle from sites such as EBay and Facebook amongst others, especially considering that many people do not physically view the car before entering into any auction for the vehicle.  This sort of online car purchase is booming at the moment and picking up a bargain can occur, as can picking up a troublesome car that has been sold as seen, or not seen, as the case may be.

The internet is an amazing source of information and is invaluable in assisting in the purchase of used cars.  It does not provide definitive answers about your specific vehicle, but the general advice is often worth consideration.

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