5 safety tips for first-time car buyers
**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
Buying a car for the first time is an exciting moment. Of course, there’s a lot of research and prep done prior to meeting with a dealer and paying for your car.
However, there’s important safety exercises that you must do to keep yourself protected. You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a lemon or a scam. Apart from doing your own intensive research on a dealer’s website, here are 5 safety tips when you’re a first-time car buyer.
- Know your rights
Car dealers are regulated in every state or country. For example, the “Consumer Protection in the Purchase of Motor Vehicles Act” protects car buyers from getting a lemon. This act allows the buyer to return defective cars, have them replaced, and/or have them repaired for free. Dealers who violate this law would be fined a hefty penalty.
Start by researching consumer and vehicle laws in your city, state, or country. Equip yourself with that knowledge so you’ll know your rights as a car buyer.
- Select reliable car dealers/sellers
There’s a lot of car sellers and dealers who will charm you into buying their units. They’ll put up extravagant and convincing ads on TV, billboards, or online campaigns. They will even pitch offers that are too good to be true.
Instead of being tempted to jump on the cheapest offer, spend some time researching reliable car dealers/sellers in your area. Look into their history, customer feedback, reviews, and Better Business Bureau rating.
Speak to their staff or reps and assess if they provide credible and reasonable offers. A good interview will often give you a foresight whether the seller or the dealer’s rep is just sweet-talking you to buy their unit or not.
- Investigate the car’s title
When you’re presented with several offers, always pay attention to the car’s ownership history and/or title. Take
note of the car’s ID on the title and check whether it’s the same on the car. Also, make sure that the seller or dealer is the one listed as the owner in the title.
At any point you spot some discrepancy and/or dubious entries, start asking questions to the seller or dealer. Allow the seller or the dealer to produce some more evidence and/or legal documentation. If you’re buying a used car, you can check the car’s plate number and registration number with the local DMV office.
If the seller and/or the dealer is hesitant to disclose any information that you want to clarify, that’s a sign for you to step back. They should be transparent enough to provide you with the information you need. Most especially if it’s about the car’s title or ownership documentation.
- Don’t bring cash
It’s very tempting to bring all your money when you’re fully convinced to buy a car. However, if you’re a first-time car buyer, this isn’t always recommended. As sure as you may be of the unit that you’ve decided, it’s still best to use currencies other than cash.
You may want to pay by check and bring your checkbook and/or you want to opt for a bank transaction instead. There are two main reasons for this:
- You don’t want to be ripped off
- Reduce the chance of being impulsive
On top of that, bringing in cash invites a lot of bad consequences to happen. Especially when some people know that you’re carrying a lot of money with you. As a safety recommendation, leave your money in the bank.
- Only transact at the bank
Transacting at the bank is the safest way to make a payment for your car. You’ll have to work with your car dealer and/or seller to convince them to do this type of transaction. They should be able to accommodate if this isn’t part of their payment process.
Doing a bank transaction when paying for your new car allows you to get a written proof of payment with 3rd party witnesses.
The easiest way to do this is to give the dealer or seller a certified check from your bank account. You’ll need to invite the seller or the dealer’s rep to the bank with you and perform the transaction. The seller or the dealer’s rep can verify the check and they can even cash the check in front of you. Your bank should be able to provide a written proof of payment as soon as the transaction is done.
Final words
As exciting as buying your first car is, it’s equally important to be a safe consumer. You must know the basic buyer’s guide and the state or country laws that protect you as a buyer. By knowing these safety tips for first-time car buyers, you’ll be confident enough to get that car you’ve wanted.