Buying a new car can be an expensive endeavour. Cars aren’t cheap to manufacture, and companies need to make a profit at the end of the day. So the manufacturing costs and the profit margin come at your expense. But it’s a trade-off – because you get to drive your shiny, great-smelling new wheels out of the dealership with 0 on the milage. Life is about striking that balance sometimes, after all.
But there are ways that you can get some great car deals in Australia, so you don’t always have to pay top dollar. Let’s explore some car deal considerations and learn how to save some money on that new car purchase.
Strike a Bargain
A car salesperson has one crucial task to perform to do their job effectively – sell you a new car. If you walk out of the showroom without putting down a deposit, they’ve failed at their job. Help them do their job, but strike a hard bargain! You should always be able to negotiate some cost of a new car. If they don’t budge on the price, see what else they can throw in. Can they promise capped-price servicing, or an extended warranty, or some fuel, or roadside assistance? If you don’t ask, you won’t receive. So, haggle as hard as you can and walk away saving some money.
Do Your Research
Before you even hit the dealership, do your research online. See how much the model you are keen on is advertised online. Take screenshots. That way if you are quoted a higher amount, you can whip out your phone and show the price that is listed online.
Wait for Sales and Clearances
Cars are products like any other, and products go on sale. Most car dealerships will offer end of financial year sales where you can save thousands. If you can wait for this, do so. This way you might save thousands you would have otherwise spent if you bought the car at another point in the year.
Dealerships will also run clearance sales, usually when they are about to receive their new stock of the latest models. They have an incentive to sell the previous years’ stock, to clear room on the yard. You are almost guaranteed to find a bargain during a clearance. Keep an eye on the dealers’ websites and sign up for email marketing, so you don’t miss a clearance sale.
Ask them to Beat a Price
If you get a specific price quoted to you at one dealership, approach another and see if they can beat that price. Only do this when you are ready to buy, though. You don’t want to burn a bridge and annoy the salesperson. It pays to keep them on your side.
Pay Outright
Dealerships love to finance your purchase. This makes money for them. If you can, save up your money and buy your car outright. You will save thousands on interest that you would otherwise pay with a multiple-year car loan through the dealership.
A Car Purchasing Conclusion
When buying a new car, always haggle and drive a hard bargain with the salesperson. Even if you already know you want a 2021 Lincoln Aviator, do your research online before approaching a dealership, so you have an idea of the cost range of your preferred model. Wait for sales and clearances if you can, to save thousands. Ask if the dealership can beat another quoted price. And finally, avoid dealership finance and pay outright if you can. Good luck on your car-buying journey!
