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Buying a car is essentially a simple process. You see one you like, you get a price for it and you decide whether or not you can afford it. What could possibly go wrong?
Having said that, there are some common car buying myths that can end up confusing buyers and making the whole process a lot more complicated than it has to be. The following are a few things about buying cars that you probably thought you know but didn’t really.
Myth: You Should Never Finance Through the Dealer
People tend to mis-trust the finance deals offered to them by the dealer. However, there is no reason to think that this is automatically going to end up more expensive for you than arranging the loan elsewhere. It might but then again, it might not. The only way you can make sure that you get the best possible finance deals is to shop around and compare a few different ones. While this could take you a little bit of time, it is worth it if you save yourself some money each month that you pay the loan back. It really comes down to the bottom line of how much you need to pay back over how long. If you are a buying a car then you are the only person who is going to benefit from finding and choosing the best deal, however you do it.
Myth: You’ll Get a Better Deal Just Before Closing Time
The idea of walking into a car dealership just as they are about to hang up the closing sign is a tempting one, isn’t it? Maybe they’ll be so desperate to get the sale done quickly that they’ll just accept any sort of offer you make on the car you want. Sadly, this is another popular car buying myth. To be honest, the salesman is likely to stay there just as long as it takes for him to close the deal. This means that you will be in exactly the same bargaining position you would have been in if you had arrived there earlier in the day.
Myth: The Salesman Pretends to Speak to the Manager Just to Mess with My Mind
It can seem as though the salesman is constantly popping out to see his manager just to mess you about. Does he really just stand round the corner and count to 100 or does he have a laugh and a joke with his manager without even talking about your potential purchase? The truth is that it is sometimes necessary for a sales person to speak to their manager in order to work out a deal correctly. You shouldn’t get uptight or too suspicious when this happens.
Myth: You Need to Get Your Car’s Servicing Done Where You Buy It
There are a number of car buying myths to do with maintenance and servicing as well. Top car insurance comparison resource Captain Compare has covered a few of these very well. When it comes to the servicing of the vehicle, many buyers think that their warranty might be made invalid if they get it done anywhere other than the dealership where they bought it. This isn’t true, as the servicing can be done at any authorised centre. It won’t necessarily be cheaper at the place of purchase either. Many dealerships are made up of different departments which are independent from each other. This means that the servicing department don’t really take into account where you bought the car when it comes to charging you.
Myth: Extended Warranties Are a Waste of Money
Many of us are rightly wary when we are offered optional extras and any purchase we make. We see these are being easy ways for the sales team to make a little bit more commission off us. Having said that, when it comes to buying a car then an extended warranty can work out to be a good deal. It all comes down to the coverage on offer and the cost of it. This means that you should work out beforehand what a good price would be for the type of cover you need. As with all types of warranty or insurance, the idea is to buy you some peace of mind in the future, which is very rarely a bad idea.