10 things you should do before deciding to buy a car

Buying a new (or used) car can be a memorable and daunting experience, so it's important to be well-informed before making any car purchase.

Here are 10 things you should know and strategies to help you get the best quality car at the lowest price.

1. Consider finances

Before you go to any car dealership, you should carefully check the financing options available to you, including a down payment or monthly payments.

You should also spend some time researching the bank's car loan packages. Currently, banks are providing financial service packages for car purchases.

2. Check credit limit

If you have a credit account at a bank, knowing your credit history can save you a lot of money. Because if you have a good credit history, you can get a lower interest rate on your loan.

3. Have a list of cars you are interested in

You should do some research on some cars before you head straight to the dealership. To determine the type of car you want, you can easily find thousands of information on the Internet with just keywords like "best cars of 2017", "best cars for families" ... In addition, the car pages of newspapers are also a useful reference.

4. Compare prices

Car prices at dealerships can vary, up to tens of millions of dong, so the best way is to compare the prices of the cars you are interested in on the Internet first. Not only that, you can find information about the email and phone number of the dealership, which helps you easily negotiate the price before going to see it in person.

Additionally, some car dealerships will often have promotions posted on their websites.

5. Trade in your old car for a new one

If you have an old car and want to trade it in for a new one (with some extra money, of course), never wait for a car dealership to give you a price quote.

With car lookup websites, you can roughly estimate the value of your car based on the original selling price, mileage, year of manufacture, etc.

6. Take time for a test drive

You might think that you don’t need to test drive a car if you’re shopping for your third Toyota, but many experts say you should take the time to do so. It’s best to test drive the car and check every detail to make sure it feels right and that you’ll enjoy driving it.

Remember to test drive the car before buying it and ask the dealer to inspect the car before delivery. Photo: Reader's Digest

7. Check the vehicle history

Before choosing a dealership to see a car, read reviews about the driving experience. Don’t assume that just because it’s a reputable brand, you’ll be fine with it, especially if you’re buying a used car.

Not only that, you can check the history of the car based on the VIN number printed on the car.

8. Find the vehicle's repair records

In addition, you should also check whether the car has been repaired in the past, especially with important details such as the engine and gearbox.

9. Require the dealer to inspect the vehicle before delivery.

You should also note that you should ask the car dealer to inspect the car before you buy it. Although each inspection like that will be quite expensive (sometimes up to millions of VND), this is worth it if it helps you save tens of millions of VND in repairs later.

Not only that, some dealers may intentionally not carry out this inspection. You must make sure that the dealer inspects the car.

10. Know your rights

For any new (or used) car, take the time to read the warranty and return policy. Consider whether you should purchase an additional warranty or the carmaker's return policy.

Buying a car can seem intimidating, but with the right research and preparation, you won't have any regrets after your purchase.

According to TTO