When buying a car, whether it’s a used or new car, there are many considerations you need to take into account. You may not have all the answers, so it’s important to know exactly which questions you need to ask your dealer or the individual who is selling the vehicle privately. Some of these questions are specific to those purchasing a vehicle from a dealership, but in general, everyone, regardless of the type of car they want to buy, can benefit from considering these questions.
Thinking of buying a used car? Watch out for a lemon car.
Questions To Ask Yourself When Buying a New Car
What type of car do you need?
How do you plan to use this car? Are you driving solo most of the time, or do you need to drive around a family of 6? For example, if you have a big family, you will need to purchase a car with more seats. Maybe you plan to use this car every day, so you might want to go for a practical model instead of a sports car. Regardless of your reasons for using the car, it’s important to consider those reasons when you pick out a model.
What’s your budget?
This question has a few layers. You need to consider not only the purchase price but also how you plan to buy (upfront or financed), as well as how much you can afford for your monthly payments. You also need to consider all of the extra fees that aren’t as obvious when you look at the purchase price. For example, sales tax, administration fees, gas, car insurance, and more.
How much gas does the car use?
Some cars use up more gas than others. If you have a long commute to work every morning, you might want to consider buying a car that’s better on gas. However, if you don’t plan to use the car frequently, you can be more lax in picking a car that’s gas-efficient.
Questions to Ask Your Dealer
Here are some questions that you should always ask a car dealer before purchasing a vehicle.
Warranty
What does my warranty cover, and when does it start?
Make sure to research the warranty and find out what it covers and what it doesn’t cover. Evaluate all of your warranty options before making a purchasing decision. You might find more comfort in paying for an extended warranty; or, you might be satisfied with the basics. This is also a good opportunity to find out when exactly the warranty starts.
What maintenance costs do I have outside the warranty?
Ask what maintenance costs you need to cover outside of your warranty so you can plan accordingly. You might decide that it’s worth paying for an extended warranty if you feel the car will have more maintenance costs than usual.
Financing
Does the dealer offer in-house financing?
To budget for your new car, it’s important to find out exactly what the terms are for financing. Maybe the dealer offers financing or maybe you need to secure it from another lender.
What are the terms for financing the vehicle?
Make sure to find out the length of the loan term, the interest rate, and what your monthly payments will be. This will help you make a realistic budget for yourself and assess whether or not you can afford the car.
Need to finance your car? Check out the best car loans in Canada.
Car Features
What extra or new features does the car have?
Cars have a variety of features, whether they are for function, comfort, convenience, or safety. For example, does the car have power outlets to charge multiple phones? Do the seats heat up for cold seasons, and does the radio connect to Bluetooth? Make sure to ask about the car features to get a better idea of what the car can offer you, and don’t forget to always ask about what kinds of safety features the car has as well.
Price
Are there any special offers or promotions?
Some dealers offer special promotions at certain times of the year. You might want to research multiple dealers to find a better price for the car you want.
Can you negotiate the price?
Sometimes, dealers will be willing to go lower on the price to make a sale. When buying a car from a dealership, it’s always worth trying to negotiate the price. If you never ask, you’ll never know.
Are you buying a new car? Do you know what the MSRP is?
Questions to Ask About a Used Car
The questions above are more suitable for a new car. When buying a used car, however, there are other things to consider. Here are some questions you can ask whoever is selling you a used car.
Why are you selling the car?
If you are buying from an independent person (not a dealer), there could be a variety of reasons that they could have for selling the car. Assuming they will be honest in their answer, you might want to reconsider buying a car if it has posed serious problems for the previous owner. For example, maybe it wasn’t gas-efficient, or the brakes were faulty. However, some of the issues a previous owner has had might not be an issue for you.
How many owners has the car had and what is the mileage?
If many people have owned the car beforehand, the mileage on it could be high, and the car could have more wear and tear than the average car. This would be a good opportunity to ask what the mileage is on the car as well.
Has the car been in an accident?
Minor car accidents might not impede future use of the car; however, more serious accidents or poor repairs could cost you money down the line, as well as pose safety issues. Remember that used-car dealers are required by law to tell you about any accidents in the vehicle’s history. You could request a vehicle history report to see any accidents the car has been in that were reported to the insurance company.
Is the vehicle certified?
Before being sold, most cars need to be certified, or “safetied” by a technician. The technician will conduct an inspection to provide assurance that the vehicle is relatively safe, or has met the minimum standard of mechanical fitness. Sometimes, however, vehicles might still be up for sale without having already had this inspection. You might need to pay for the inspection, keeping in mind that if any issues are made known during the inspection, you will have more costs to deal with. It’s important to ask whether or not the vehicle is certified upon purchasing it. You might be able to negotiate the price depending on the answer.
Has the car been serviced?
When buying a used car, you should always ask about the vehicle’s repair history. Usually, the seller can provide full-service records to note the repairs and maintenance on the vehicle. If the car has had a history of recurring issues like faulty brakes, airbag issues, or engine problems, you might want to take that into consideration before purchasing. Please note also that not all sellers will have these records, making purchasing the vehicle a bit riskier.
Final Thoughts
Overall, purchasing a car is a big decision that requires careful thought and consideration. Asking the right questions can help you determine if you’re comfortable purchasing a specific vehicle, whether from a dealership or a private seller.
