Frequently asked questions about driving and car ownership in the UK
THE BASICS
Why should I get a car?
You should get a car ASAP if you live outside London.
But I can take the bus to work everyday.
If you calculate the daily expenditure on public transport (including weekends when you take the train to other cities), you will find out that buying and owning a car will be cheaper in the long run.
I still find public transport better.
If you are planning to apply for a training post, you may get a job in a different city where the public transport is not very good. You may not get accommodation near your hospital and will need to travel for your mandatory training sessions one or twice a month. It makes sense to get a car now.
If you are a couple, then one of you may be working in a nearby town and will need a car to travel independently especially after long shifts.
Fine. You have convinced me. What are the mandatory things I need to know about driving in the UK?
1. You should have a license
2. You car must be taxed before you take it out on the road.
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
WHEN TO BUY A CAR
I have an international license and I am working towards getting a UK drivers license. When should I get a car?
This depends - if you have reliable public transport and you do not feel the need to get a car at the moment then you can wait till you get your UK drivers license.
INSURANCE
What is car insurance?
This is a monthly/annual payment you make to a company which then pays for the damage in case you are involved in an accident. This is mandatory.
I have decided to buy a car on my international license. Will the insurance be high?Yes, it is a bit high for international drivers. But not un-affordable. Personally I was paying 30 GBP more on an international license than what I paid when I got my UK license.
Will my insurance come down when I get a UK license?
It comes down a bit - in my case it was 30 GBP per month.
How should I check the insurance of a car I am interested in?
Enter the cars details and your personal details here:
https://www.confused.com/car-insurance
Also search for car insurance comparison websites on Google and see what quotes you get.
When you get a reasonable quote, you should read the reviews of that company on Google. If the reviews are good, then you should also check on the insurance company's website as well as sometimes comparison websites may have a higher quote.
So what should I do?
1. Check comparison websites
2. See which company has the most reasonable quote
3. Check reviews of the insurance website on Google
4. Check the quote on that particular company's website as well to check you are getting the cheapest quote.
What does this insurance quote depend on?
Your car
- Price of the car.
The more expensive it is, the higher the costs would be to repair it and hence, it will have a higher insurance.
- Engine capacity
The higher the engine capacity, the faster the car will be which put it at risk of an accident. Hence the quote will be high.
- How old it is
The older the car, the more the risk of it breaking down and having less security and safety features.
- Safety features
- Whether it has been modified or not
If it has been modified (ie sports suspension or sports exhaust as an after market thing) then it is more likely to break down
- Security system
- Mileage
The higher the mileage, the higher the chances are for it breaking down.
Your license
- UK or international
- Duration you have had it for
- Any points on your license
Use
- Social
-For work
- Both
Where you will park your car at
- Secure garage
- Secure parking lot
- Open street
How many cars you have owned before.
How many cars you own now.
If you have any no claims bonus and how many years you have it.
This no claims bonus refers to any car insurance you have had in the past - and if you have been involved in a crash and claimed for it or not. If you have, then you are a high risk driver and your insurance will be high.
If you have not had insurance in the past, put 0 in. The quote will go down as the number of years of no claims bonus increases.
So this means I need to know which car I want to buy and then check the insurance before even considering to buy it?
Yes that is correct.
What is the typical insurance rate?
A typical monthly insurance is around 80 to 150 GBP depending on your car.
What payment options are there?
Monthly and annual.
Please note that the monthly installments are slightly higher than annual payments.
Is there a standard car all new drivers buy in the UK to check my insurance against so that I can compare my quote?
An approved used Vaxhual Corsa - A friend recently got a UK license and did not own a car prior to this. It costed him 4,000 GBP (It was a 32,000 miles driven 2014 model with guarantee and warranty) with an insurance of 800 GBP annually.
What is black box insurance?
You can read about this here:
https://www.admiral.com/first-time-insurance
Basically it is a small box you attach to your cars cigarette lighter which monitors your driving speed, whether you brake or accelerate suddenly. You then post this box back to the insurance company which assesses your driving skills and then offers a discount ranging from 10-20%.
Is it cheaper than regular insurance?You can get quotes for it and check for yourself by searching for "black box car insurance" on Google.
When should I get insurance? Once you have bought your car. Some dealerships offer complimentary insurance for 2 to 5 days so that you can sort it out after driving your car back home (however you MUST have checked what quotes you are getting for that car before all of this).
But I cannot check the insurance quote of the particular car I am interested in because I do not know the registration number.
Yes you can - the registration number is mentioned in the cars advertisement. If it is not, you can always call the seller/dealership.
Do you have a list of car insurance quotes for people like me?
Yes- Please join this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
FINANCE OPTIONS
What car finance options are there?
1. Buying on cash directly.
This is the most convenient. Especially if you have a saving of 5,000 GBP and your car costs less than that.
2. Finance deals
A lot of websites have this information. Search on Google. I find this quite helpful:
https://www.audi.co.uk/explore-models/finance.html
Why should I get a car?
You should get a car ASAP if you live outside London.
But I can take the bus to work everyday.
If you calculate the daily expenditure on public transport (including weekends when you take the train to other cities), you will find out that buying and owning a car will be cheaper in the long run.
I still find public transport better.
If you are planning to apply for a training post, you may get a job in a different city where the public transport is not very good. You may not get accommodation near your hospital and will need to travel for your mandatory training sessions one or twice a month. It makes sense to get a car now.
If you are a couple, then one of you may be working in a nearby town and will need a car to travel independently especially after long shifts.
Fine. You have convinced me. What are the mandatory things I need to know about driving in the UK?
1. You should have a license
2. You car must be taxed before you take it out on the road.
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
3. You must be the insured driver of the car
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance4. Your car must have passed its MOT if it is older than 3 years.
https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot
https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot
5. You must be familiar with the rules of driving in the UK ( you must have taken a few lessons before driving in the UK).
https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders
DRIVERS LICENSE
What should I do to get a car?
You need to have a license first.
I have an international license from my home country.
Please note that you are allowed to drive in the UK for only one year on an international license from your home country. You should also have your regular license from your home country and carry both.
This is the official guideline on this:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
I have that much time. I have just come to the UK.
That is great - you also need to start working towards your UK drivers license.
Oh that is easy. I can easily get a UK license as I have been driving in my home country.
It is slightly different here. I personally felt that my driving test was the most nerve wrecking and tough test I have given in the UK.
What should I do to apply for my drivers license?
Read this guideline:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/passing-your-driving-test-in-uk.html
https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders
DRIVERS LICENSE
What should I do to get a car?
You need to have a license first.
I have an international license from my home country.
Please note that you are allowed to drive in the UK for only one year on an international license from your home country. You should also have your regular license from your home country and carry both.
This is the official guideline on this:
https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence
I have that much time. I have just come to the UK.
That is great - you also need to start working towards your UK drivers license.
Oh that is easy. I can easily get a UK license as I have been driving in my home country.
It is slightly different here. I personally felt that my driving test was the most nerve wrecking and tough test I have given in the UK.
What should I do to apply for my drivers license?
Read this guideline:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/passing-your-driving-test-in-uk.html
WHEN TO BUY A CAR
I have an international license and I am working towards getting a UK drivers license. When should I get a car?
This depends - if you have reliable public transport and you do not feel the need to get a car at the moment then you can wait till you get your UK drivers license.
INSURANCE
What is car insurance?
This is a monthly/annual payment you make to a company which then pays for the damage in case you are involved in an accident. This is mandatory.
I have decided to buy a car on my international license. Will the insurance be high?Yes, it is a bit high for international drivers. But not un-affordable. Personally I was paying 30 GBP more on an international license than what I paid when I got my UK license.
Will my insurance come down when I get a UK license?
It comes down a bit - in my case it was 30 GBP per month.
How should I check the insurance of a car I am interested in?
Enter the cars details and your personal details here:
https://www.confused.com/car-insurance
Also search for car insurance comparison websites on Google and see what quotes you get.
When you get a reasonable quote, you should read the reviews of that company on Google. If the reviews are good, then you should also check on the insurance company's website as well as sometimes comparison websites may have a higher quote.
So what should I do?
1. Check comparison websites
2. See which company has the most reasonable quote
3. Check reviews of the insurance website on Google
4. Check the quote on that particular company's website as well to check you are getting the cheapest quote.
What does this insurance quote depend on?
Your car
- Price of the car.
The more expensive it is, the higher the costs would be to repair it and hence, it will have a higher insurance.
- Engine capacity
The higher the engine capacity, the faster the car will be which put it at risk of an accident. Hence the quote will be high.
- How old it is
The older the car, the more the risk of it breaking down and having less security and safety features.
- Safety features
- Whether it has been modified or not
If it has been modified (ie sports suspension or sports exhaust as an after market thing) then it is more likely to break down
- Security system
- Mileage
The higher the mileage, the higher the chances are for it breaking down.
Your license
- UK or international
- Duration you have had it for
- Any points on your license
Use
- Social
-For work
- Both
Where you will park your car at
- Secure garage
- Secure parking lot
- Open street
How many cars you have owned before.
How many cars you own now.
If you have any no claims bonus and how many years you have it.
This no claims bonus refers to any car insurance you have had in the past - and if you have been involved in a crash and claimed for it or not. If you have, then you are a high risk driver and your insurance will be high.
If you have not had insurance in the past, put 0 in. The quote will go down as the number of years of no claims bonus increases.
So this means I need to know which car I want to buy and then check the insurance before even considering to buy it?
Yes that is correct.
What is the typical insurance rate?
A typical monthly insurance is around 80 to 150 GBP depending on your car.
What payment options are there?
Monthly and annual.
Please note that the monthly installments are slightly higher than annual payments.
Is there a standard car all new drivers buy in the UK to check my insurance against so that I can compare my quote?
An approved used Vaxhual Corsa - A friend recently got a UK license and did not own a car prior to this. It costed him 4,000 GBP (It was a 32,000 miles driven 2014 model with guarantee and warranty) with an insurance of 800 GBP annually.
What is black box insurance?
You can read about this here:
https://www.admiral.com/first-time-insurance
Basically it is a small box you attach to your cars cigarette lighter which monitors your driving speed, whether you brake or accelerate suddenly. You then post this box back to the insurance company which assesses your driving skills and then offers a discount ranging from 10-20%.
Is it cheaper than regular insurance?You can get quotes for it and check for yourself by searching for "black box car insurance" on Google.
When should I get insurance? Once you have bought your car. Some dealerships offer complimentary insurance for 2 to 5 days so that you can sort it out after driving your car back home (however you MUST have checked what quotes you are getting for that car before all of this).
But I cannot check the insurance quote of the particular car I am interested in because I do not know the registration number.
Yes you can - the registration number is mentioned in the cars advertisement. If it is not, you can always call the seller/dealership.
Do you have a list of car insurance quotes for people like me?
Yes- Please join this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
And go through this document:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/international-medical-graduates-imgs-in-the-uk/car-insurance-costs-for-imgs-working-in-the-uk/1734717926561241/
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAR
What options do I have?
1. Buying a new car
This is not advised as new cars depreciate really fast as soon as you drive them out of the showroom. Some may loose 500 to 5000 GBP of their actual value.
2. Buying an approved used car
These cars are available at official dealerships and are under warranty. They have low mileage (up to 20,000 miles), have been checked and serviced by the dealership in detail and cost less than new cars. They usually have more specifications as well (like navigation, cruise control, electric seats, etc)
3. Buying an old car from a private dealership
These cars may be up to 10 years old. They usually have valid MOTs but are cheap and are have a reasonable insurance. They have a risk of breaking down and the costs of fixing them are higher as well. They can cost anything from 400 GBP to 3000 GBP.
4. Buying an old car from a private seller.
What is your advice?
It depends on how much you have in your account.
I am personally against option 1 (ie buying a new car).
I have around 4,000 GBP in my account.
You can go for a 2014-5 vaxhuall corsa like my friend did - it is relative new, has warranty, all new drivers buy it, cheap to insure and will last for a couple of years.
I want to buy a Mercedes/BMW/Audi/Jaguar.
As a first car, it is best to stick to a price range of around 4000 GBP and build your insurance first. However some of my colleagues who are car fans went for nice sporty cars as their first cars. They had to pay slightly higher insurance but they did not mind it. Car fans do not mind paying extra for a car they have always dreamed to own.
How should I search for a car?
Online! Use Google. Everything is available there.
Which websites are trust worthy?
Official dealerships, arnold clark, private dealerships
However you should always check the car in person.
I like a particular car. What should I do?
Lets say you like a Volkswagen Polo. Now you have decide the following:
- The generation you want to buy.
Would you prefer to buy the latest model or the previous model. This depends on what you want (and how interested you are in such stuff).
If the previous generation is more or less the same with reasonable specifications which you want, then go for that.
- Transmission
Automatic/manual/ triptronic.
This depends on your driving style and what you are used to. Personally automatic is easier, manual is more fun and triptronic gives you the best of both worlds.
- The engine capacity
You will realize this when you test drive the car. For small cars, 1.2 to 1.4 liters is good enough.
-Petrol or diesel. Or hybrid (if that is an option on the car you are interested in)
Petrol is better than diesel as the engines last longer (however nowadays both are good enough). Hybrid is more economical in the city but the cost of these cars may be higher.
- The specifications
Whether you want bluetooth, navigation, heated seats, etc.
So search on the official VW website and also go to your local VW dealership and test drive it. The salesmen are very helpful. You can test drive any car you want to.
What specifications are a must?
Most cars have standard:
-ABS
- Air conditioning
- CD player/radio
- Traction control
These are the specifications which are a "necessary luxury"
- Bluetooth phone connectivity.
This is very useful if you have your own playlists in your phone and go on long drives.
- Navigation
Built in navigation systems are better as you do not have to worry about connecting a portable navigation/your phone to the windscreen.
Also remember that there are very strict rules of using both devices:
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
https://www.facebook.com/notes/international-medical-graduates-imgs-in-the-uk/car-insurance-costs-for-imgs-working-in-the-uk/1734717926561241/
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAR
What options do I have?
1. Buying a new car
This is not advised as new cars depreciate really fast as soon as you drive them out of the showroom. Some may loose 500 to 5000 GBP of their actual value.
2. Buying an approved used car
These cars are available at official dealerships and are under warranty. They have low mileage (up to 20,000 miles), have been checked and serviced by the dealership in detail and cost less than new cars. They usually have more specifications as well (like navigation, cruise control, electric seats, etc)
3. Buying an old car from a private dealership
These cars may be up to 10 years old. They usually have valid MOTs but are cheap and are have a reasonable insurance. They have a risk of breaking down and the costs of fixing them are higher as well. They can cost anything from 400 GBP to 3000 GBP.
4. Buying an old car from a private seller.
What is your advice?
It depends on how much you have in your account.
I am personally against option 1 (ie buying a new car).
I have around 4,000 GBP in my account.
You can go for a 2014-5 vaxhuall corsa like my friend did - it is relative new, has warranty, all new drivers buy it, cheap to insure and will last for a couple of years.
I want to buy a Mercedes/BMW/Audi/Jaguar.
As a first car, it is best to stick to a price range of around 4000 GBP and build your insurance first. However some of my colleagues who are car fans went for nice sporty cars as their first cars. They had to pay slightly higher insurance but they did not mind it. Car fans do not mind paying extra for a car they have always dreamed to own.
How should I search for a car?
Online! Use Google. Everything is available there.
Which websites are trust worthy?
Official dealerships, arnold clark, private dealerships
However you should always check the car in person.
I like a particular car. What should I do?
Lets say you like a Volkswagen Polo. Now you have decide the following:
- The generation you want to buy.
Would you prefer to buy the latest model or the previous model. This depends on what you want (and how interested you are in such stuff).
If the previous generation is more or less the same with reasonable specifications which you want, then go for that.
- Transmission
Automatic/manual/ triptronic.
This depends on your driving style and what you are used to. Personally automatic is easier, manual is more fun and triptronic gives you the best of both worlds.
- The engine capacity
You will realize this when you test drive the car. For small cars, 1.2 to 1.4 liters is good enough.
-Petrol or diesel. Or hybrid (if that is an option on the car you are interested in)
Petrol is better than diesel as the engines last longer (however nowadays both are good enough). Hybrid is more economical in the city but the cost of these cars may be higher.
- The specifications
Whether you want bluetooth, navigation, heated seats, etc.
So search on the official VW website and also go to your local VW dealership and test drive it. The salesmen are very helpful. You can test drive any car you want to.
What specifications are a must?
Most cars have standard:
-ABS
- Air conditioning
- CD player/radio
- Traction control
These are the specifications which are a "necessary luxury"
- Bluetooth phone connectivity.
This is very useful if you have your own playlists in your phone and go on long drives.
- Navigation
Built in navigation systems are better as you do not have to worry about connecting a portable navigation/your phone to the windscreen.
Also remember that there are very strict rules of using both devices:
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
FINANCE OPTIONS
What car finance options are there?
1. Buying on cash directly.
This is the most convenient. Especially if you have a saving of 5,000 GBP and your car costs less than that.
2. Finance deals
A lot of websites have this information. Search on Google. I find this quite helpful:
https://www.audi.co.uk/explore-models/finance.html
The basic principle is that you pay a certain deposit (which is 10 to 20% of the actual price of the car) and then pay a monthly deposit.
Please note that they may be a bit hesitant on giving you a deal so you should
- Have a UK drivers license
- Have lived in the UK for at least 1 year on your work visa
- Be on the voting register.
- Have a phone on contract/pay credit card bills on time.
https://moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/debt/9-steps-to-score-on-your-credit-rating/
Please note that they may be a bit hesitant on giving you a deal so you should
- Have a UK drivers license
- Have lived in the UK for at least 1 year on your work visa
- Be on the voting register.
- Have a phone on contract/pay credit card bills on time.
https://moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/debt/9-steps-to-score-on-your-credit-rating/
3. Taking a loan from your bank.
4. Taking a loan from your family and then returning that amount.
Which one should I go for?
This depends on your saving and what type of car you want to get.
I want to go a finance deal.
You must discuss this finance deal with your dealership. I went through each and every detail when I bought my car from a dealership and this took me 4 hours. But at the end of it, I knew all the details on it and I also counter-checked by checking on the internet.
BUYING THE CAR
What should I know about when I go to a dealership to buy a car?
You should take a person who knows about cars - they will be able to tell you as a third person if there are any issues as we can get quite excited and miss minor details.
You should always test drive the car and know which specifications you want.
You should check each and every detail on the car:
- Service history
- MOT
- Mileage
- Whether it has been in an accident or not
Good dealerships are registered with HPI - an independent company which provides a certificate after entering a cars registration number. This certificate contains all of the details about the history of the car.
- Test drive it and check for any damage (your friend can help you in this).
I have liked that particular car. What should I do?
Check the price of the same make and model on Google as well - You will see that the car you are interested in is slightly higher.
Can I haggle?
Of course! And you must. Show the dealership the prices of the car you have seen. Bring the price down as much as possible.
Read this and search on Google for more advice:
http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/carbuyers-price-negotiation-tricks
When should I sign the deal?
When you have checked all of the above, know the insurance quote of that car and are happy with it.
This may take long. The dealership says that the car I am interested in might get sold.
Do not worry - you need to check each and every detail on that car first (insurance, specs, online reviews, etc). This can take one to 2 days. Even if the car you are interested in is bought by someone else, there are loads of models available with the same specifications. It is important to know each and every detail beforehand to avoid disappointment.
BUYING A LUXURY CAR
I have owned a small cheap car in the UK for about a year. I have my UK drivers license and would now like to upgrade. I like a particular luxury car but I have no idea about cars.
The best thing about the UK is that everyone can be educated via the internet. So if you like a particular car, read about its reviews by searching for it on Google. You will find the specifications which are recommended by car reviewers and will have a general idea of the engine size, whether to get petrol/diesel/hybrid, the cost of the car, the transmission and the recommended optional extras. Once you have a general idea, you can then visit your local dealership.
There are so many specifications and options to choose from! yes, there are. This is the beauty of buying a car here. You can select whatever you like unlike in our home countries where we are limited to 3 makes and models.
But I will not know what to do there.
The salesmen in dealerships here are very friendly. They have a huge stock of cars so you can actually check out the specifications you have shortlisted and they can also advise on what to choose from. You can also test drive a particular model if you like it.
But they will want to sell it to me.
Yes, that is the main purpose of the salesmen - they want to sell their product. However be confident and inform them that you are shortlisting the exact specifications of the car you are interested in.
This will take so long!This is the fun part! Choosing what specifications and options you like, discussing these with your friends, revisiting the dealership, checking out videos on You Tube and then making a list of must haves and options you may live without.
So what should I do when I have done the aforementioned things.
Check the approved used section of the dealerships website and see what options they have to offer. Check the insurance quote on the particular model. Please note that if you like a particular car which is not available in the dealerships stock, they can get it from another dealership from nearby. So once you have made a final list and checked the price, insurance, have a general idea of the finance plans, go to the dealership.
Can I haggle on a price of a luxury car?
Yes- of course! Actually these cars are the best to haggle on as they depreciate fast when they are bought new. So an approved used car will be 5 to 10,000 GBP cheaper than the same car as new but have more options. But you must bargain over the price.
I have heard that luxury cars are more expensive to maintain.
Not in my experience.
This was my first car:
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/my-first-car-in-uk-peugeot-206/257585
It cost me 990 GBP when I bought it and spent around the same amount getting it tuned and fixed in one year.
This is my second car:
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/my-second-car-in-uk-audi-a3-1-4l-tfsi-s-line/442847
I have no spent a single penny on it since one year as it had 2 free services, under warranty for 5 years ( My gearbox was a bit noisy so the dealership replaced it with a new one for free - it would cost me 1,000 GBP otherwise) and has a lot of extras as mentioned in my review. It is more fuel efficient and has a lower road tax.
So it is very important for the car to be under warranty. Oh yes! This is very important. Make sure the car is under manufacturers warranty and check what the warranty covers.
Which cars can I afford as an IMG who has owned a cheap car in the UK, has a UK license and saving of around 5,000 GBP?
You can get a car which costs up to 30,000 GBP or even more (depending on the finance deal).
So what is a typical finance deal?
I bought a car via PCP :
https://www.audi.co.uk/explore-models/finance.html
What was your experience like?The details of my experience are mentioned here:
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/my-second-car-in-uk-audi-a3-1-4l-tfsi-s-line/442847
Is it worth it?
If you love cars and enjoy to drive, then yes. Even if you do not like cars, you will fall in love with your luxury car when you buy it. So yes - it is worth it.
MY FINAL ADVICE
We are used to taking advice from friends and family. The car buying options in our home countries is limited to one or 2 models and everyone buys the same car. In the UK, there are thousands of options to choose from. And there is no right or wrong option. Everyone has different tastes and requirements.
So do your own research, Of course, involve your family in your decisions and ask the dealership if you have any questions.
Never ever sign a deal prematurely.
Please see these guidelines as well:
Passing your driving test in the UK
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/passing-your-driving-test-in-uk.html
My guideline on buying a reliable car in the UK:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/my-guideline-on-buying-reliable-car-in.html
My guideline on maintaining a car in the UK:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/my-guideline-on-maintaining-car-in-uk.html
4. Taking a loan from your family and then returning that amount.
Which one should I go for?
This depends on your saving and what type of car you want to get.
I want to go a finance deal.
You must discuss this finance deal with your dealership. I went through each and every detail when I bought my car from a dealership and this took me 4 hours. But at the end of it, I knew all the details on it and I also counter-checked by checking on the internet.
BUYING THE CAR
What should I know about when I go to a dealership to buy a car?
You should take a person who knows about cars - they will be able to tell you as a third person if there are any issues as we can get quite excited and miss minor details.
You should always test drive the car and know which specifications you want.
You should check each and every detail on the car:
- Service history
- MOT
- Mileage
- Whether it has been in an accident or not
Good dealerships are registered with HPI - an independent company which provides a certificate after entering a cars registration number. This certificate contains all of the details about the history of the car.
- Test drive it and check for any damage (your friend can help you in this).
I have liked that particular car. What should I do?
Check the price of the same make and model on Google as well - You will see that the car you are interested in is slightly higher.
Can I haggle?
Of course! And you must. Show the dealership the prices of the car you have seen. Bring the price down as much as possible.
Read this and search on Google for more advice:
http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/carbuyers-price-negotiation-tricks
When should I sign the deal?
When you have checked all of the above, know the insurance quote of that car and are happy with it.
This may take long. The dealership says that the car I am interested in might get sold.
Do not worry - you need to check each and every detail on that car first (insurance, specs, online reviews, etc). This can take one to 2 days. Even if the car you are interested in is bought by someone else, there are loads of models available with the same specifications. It is important to know each and every detail beforehand to avoid disappointment.
BUYING A LUXURY CAR
I have owned a small cheap car in the UK for about a year. I have my UK drivers license and would now like to upgrade. I like a particular luxury car but I have no idea about cars.
The best thing about the UK is that everyone can be educated via the internet. So if you like a particular car, read about its reviews by searching for it on Google. You will find the specifications which are recommended by car reviewers and will have a general idea of the engine size, whether to get petrol/diesel/hybrid, the cost of the car, the transmission and the recommended optional extras. Once you have a general idea, you can then visit your local dealership.
There are so many specifications and options to choose from! yes, there are. This is the beauty of buying a car here. You can select whatever you like unlike in our home countries where we are limited to 3 makes and models.
But I will not know what to do there.
The salesmen in dealerships here are very friendly. They have a huge stock of cars so you can actually check out the specifications you have shortlisted and they can also advise on what to choose from. You can also test drive a particular model if you like it.
But they will want to sell it to me.
Yes, that is the main purpose of the salesmen - they want to sell their product. However be confident and inform them that you are shortlisting the exact specifications of the car you are interested in.
This will take so long!This is the fun part! Choosing what specifications and options you like, discussing these with your friends, revisiting the dealership, checking out videos on You Tube and then making a list of must haves and options you may live without.
So what should I do when I have done the aforementioned things.
Check the approved used section of the dealerships website and see what options they have to offer. Check the insurance quote on the particular model. Please note that if you like a particular car which is not available in the dealerships stock, they can get it from another dealership from nearby. So once you have made a final list and checked the price, insurance, have a general idea of the finance plans, go to the dealership.
Can I haggle on a price of a luxury car?
Yes- of course! Actually these cars are the best to haggle on as they depreciate fast when they are bought new. So an approved used car will be 5 to 10,000 GBP cheaper than the same car as new but have more options. But you must bargain over the price.
I have heard that luxury cars are more expensive to maintain.
Not in my experience.
This was my first car:
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/my-first-car-in-uk-peugeot-206/257585
It cost me 990 GBP when I bought it and spent around the same amount getting it tuned and fixed in one year.
This is my second car:
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/my-second-car-in-uk-audi-a3-1-4l-tfsi-s-line/442847
I have no spent a single penny on it since one year as it had 2 free services, under warranty for 5 years ( My gearbox was a bit noisy so the dealership replaced it with a new one for free - it would cost me 1,000 GBP otherwise) and has a lot of extras as mentioned in my review. It is more fuel efficient and has a lower road tax.
So it is very important for the car to be under warranty. Oh yes! This is very important. Make sure the car is under manufacturers warranty and check what the warranty covers.
Which cars can I afford as an IMG who has owned a cheap car in the UK, has a UK license and saving of around 5,000 GBP?
You can get a car which costs up to 30,000 GBP or even more (depending on the finance deal).
So what is a typical finance deal?
I bought a car via PCP :
https://www.audi.co.uk/explore-models/finance.html
What was your experience like?The details of my experience are mentioned here:
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/my-second-car-in-uk-audi-a3-1-4l-tfsi-s-line/442847
Is it worth it?
If you love cars and enjoy to drive, then yes. Even if you do not like cars, you will fall in love with your luxury car when you buy it. So yes - it is worth it.
MY FINAL ADVICE
We are used to taking advice from friends and family. The car buying options in our home countries is limited to one or 2 models and everyone buys the same car. In the UK, there are thousands of options to choose from. And there is no right or wrong option. Everyone has different tastes and requirements.
So do your own research, Of course, involve your family in your decisions and ask the dealership if you have any questions.
Never ever sign a deal prematurely.
Please see these guidelines as well:
Passing your driving test in the UK
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/passing-your-driving-test-in-uk.html
My guideline on buying a reliable car in the UK:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/my-guideline-on-buying-reliable-car-in.html
My guideline on maintaining a car in the UK:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/my-guideline-on-maintaining-car-in-uk.html
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