Guide to buying a new car online
The savings you can make on the internet for consumer goods are well-established – but do the same savings apply to buying a new car online? Online shopping is grabbing a larger share of the high street’s business year after year… so is it possible that the same could happen to the automotive trade? This guide to buying a new car online examines how the process of buying a new car online works, the pitfalls and the advantages.
Quick links:
Why should I buy a new car online?
The number one reason for buying a new car online is the same as buying any product on the internet – it’s a massive money saver. With far fewer overheads than traditional car dealers, online car dealers are able to offer vehicles at much lower prices. The savings to be made can amount to thousands of pounds with research suggesting you could potentially afford a second vehicle with the money you save.
What are the advantages of buying a new car online?
Of course saving money on the bottom line price of a vehicle should be your primary objective when buying a new car online. However, there are other advantages too.
Many online car dealers will offer a range of finance options including car insurance bundled in with the price of the vehicle. Additionally, online dealers will generally offer a wider range of makes and models than traditional car dealers who often only promote one car manufacturer.
Indeed choice is one of the massive incentives for buying a new car online. Not only can you take your pick from the makes and models you desire, but you can choose between the specifications you want too. For example, if you’re looking for a specific model in a particular colour you can simply enter the details into the online car dealer’s website and see what’s available. Using local garages by contrast, could mean a long wait to get exactly what you want.
Furthermore, the majority of online car dealers will deliver the vehicle directly to your door.
Significantly, buying a new car online puts the power in your hands. Instead of wasting time shopping around from dealer to dealer you can simply search for what you want and have the results in front of you within minutes. You are not restricted to searching for a new car at specific times of day, nor do you have to travel to reach your destination. There is also no pressure on to you buy – you won’t be hounded by a salesman looking to make commission. You can simply buy what you want, when you want and if you don’t see anything you like you can move on to another online dealer until you find your dream car.
Also make sure you print off the small print and read it thoroughly before completing a purchase. This is a major plus with buying a new car online – you have time to check and double check the fine print without being pressured to sign quickly.
What are the disadvantages of buying a new car online?
For most buyers who dismiss the online automotive market, the number one complaint is that they don’t want to buy a new car ‘sight unseen’.
This is less of a problem when buying a new car online, than buying a used car online. As the vehicle is ‘new’ there shouldn’t be a large variation from the car you are buying online to the same models that are available at local garages. Therefore there is nothing to stop you popping along to a local dealer and taking the car for a test drive if you do not want to rely on the pictures and descriptions that most online dealers supply. Of course that won’t allow you to check for any bumps or scratches that might be present on the car you buy – so be sure to carry out a ‘spot check’ before you take possession of the vehicle when it is delivered to you.
Another downside is that you will almost certainly have to wait a few days to receive the car you buy online – whereas you can drive away from a local garage as soon as you complete the purchase. However, for most this disadvantage is negated by the fact that you can choose the exact specification you want, ahead of time.
If you decide against buying a new car online, then you should still use online dealers to your advantage. Trawl their websites and see the prices that are available – this will give you a target price to take forward.
What vehicles are available to buy online?
Perhaps a better question would be, ‘what vehicles aren’t available to buy online’? Simply put, you have a much wider selection online – the listings at the website savemoneyoncars.co.uk alone shows everything from Alfa Romeo to Volvo and from Ford to Volkswagen. The internet is also a great place to shop for more specialised vehicles that perhaps don’t have dealerships in your area. This can include everything from luxury cars from manufacturers such as Bentley and Cadillac to classic cars from the likes of TVR, hybrid vehicles from Toyota and more.
Where do I go to buy a new car online?
There are many online dealerships to choose from and so the best place to start is a website that offers from thousands of dealers in one place.
Savemoneyoncars.co.uk provides directories with deals from the majority of UK car manufacturers with all their models listed. Once you have found the deal that suits you, click through on the links and put yourself in the fast lane to savings.
|
