Buying a car can take a lot of time, research and effort but it can also be very exciting. If you follow a few simple rules the car buying experience can be smooth and enjoyable.

We have listed below some of our recommendations when buying your next car.

1. Do your homework
Buying a car is a personal decision based on your personal situation but it is important that you decide what type of car will suit your needs and what extras you want. You should then research the fair market value of the vehicle. It is important to know the fair value of the vehicle before you start negotiations and well before you hand over your hard earned cash.

2. Know how much you can spend
You need to be realistic and you should include other purchase costs such as stamp duty, registration, insurance, vehicle, inspection costs and finance application costs in your budget.
Knowing how much you can spend will make your search much more focused and save you time.

3. Have finance already approved
If you need finance to buy your car - it is preferable to have your finance approved before you start seriously searching. If you find a car that you like, it is much easier to negotiate seriously with a seller if you know you have finance.