I usually make sure I bring a friend to the dealership who knows their cars!

Size of the car is the first thing I look at. I have 5 kids so I need a 8 seater. Comfort and space are important for our long road trips and I wanted it to have climate control air con because it gets so hot where we live. I bought a Mazda CX-9

Consider the amount of regular passengers, luggage, distance you need to travel, and any aesthetic comfort desires like leather seats, sunroof etc and if you want manual or auto. Also the size, do you want something big or small. Do you know what colours you want or dont want? Just by knowing these you will seriously nail it down to specific cars. Not all carsalesman are pushy and annoying, some really want to help you find the perfect car for you.

One thing to know about car sales is that the profit in cars is not as high as you would think. Carsalesmen get paid a very small set wage. Yes after there traineeship they can get commission but this is usually around 10% of the gross profit. Many cars will only have a few hundred dollars gross in them, for example sell a car with $200 gross then the salesman would get $20.

My advice.. find a good salesman. If you know what you want they will help you find it. Don’t mess them around, make it known straight away your a serious buyer and not a time waster. If you do this and will commit to buying a car, and politely ask if you could get a discount, you will probably get one, just keep in mind what I was saying about the small pays and commission though, many travel far for work and have families to feed, by demanding a better deal you are taking away money from their family being able to just pay basic bills and buy groceries. If they say they can’t lower the price, they could likely offer free floor mats.

Definitely the brand, price (my budget), what I need it for (e.g. carting the kids around, work commute), real reviews from current owners, and resell value.

Keep a eye on all the car sites like car sales etc. Also make sure you shop around for finance deals. Also, always negotiate as much as you can before committing to something.

1. Shop around for your car finance, don’t just believe what the dealer tells you is the best deal.
2. Utilise comparison websites, they are there to help. Can definitely point you in the right direction.
3. When you find the vehicle you want to buy, search up average prices on websites such as carsales.com.au or Redbook for a couple examples – they usually provide a price guide. They also are great to use for car finance comparison.
4. Negotiate negotiate negotiate. Push the dealer to see what they can provide additional for your money, e.g. paint protection deal included, do you want floor mats – ask for those too. Tow ball if buying a 4WD – give it a crack. It never hurts to ask.
5. If you are buying from a private sale, ALWAYS get a car check over done, there are so many backyard mechanics trying to get rid of a lemon protect yourself. It is always worth paying to get a car history too when you are serious about purchasing if second hand.
6. WOVR inspected cars will always be cheaper than non repairable write off cars, if all necessary repairs have been completed, and it has passed inspection, you might find a gem. Again, get a check done by a reputable mechanic and you may save yourself some $$s.
7. The biggest advice I can give is know exactly what you want in a vehicle before trying to shop with car salespeople, don’t let them try and get in your head about “for only 3k extra you can have heated leather seats” etc etc. Do you actually need them? They will always try the upsell.

Definitely don’t use finance from the car place. You’ll pay far more than you need to.

Read reviews, don’t get pressured into any thing on the day – there will always be another one the same / similar. Walk away have a coffee think about it then go back. Have a budget in mind and don’t change it

If you belong to a union, they often have member’s programs where they can haggle dealers down on your behalf.

Mom462038 that is a smart idea !

I like to read reviews from sites likes cars guide as they often review the 2nd hand perspective but also issues with the new version of the car. I also try to get it checked before purchase to make sure nothing is hidden. This can be more costly if you encounter an issue that will cost you thousands later (been there, thanks husband for buying on first sight!) Just remember to keep your emotions in check, theres plenty of cars out there to choose from and there’ll always be more.

Also; do lots of research prior to visits about cars and performance. Always a good idea to have a wealth of knowledge prior to investment in major purchases.

I always take a mechanic with me as well as a couple of friends that know about cars. The more eyes, ears and brains you gave the better

Another tip if buying a used car, look out for ones that have a service log book and ex company cars. They are serviced on time yearly and kept in great condition. We found one that had been used for at home health visits. Very low km, only driven within the small town it was purchased.

We have never been able to afford a new car. It’s tricky with used cars because not all car dealers are trustworthy

We have always gone in with a set list and stuck to it and made them stay on track. Set a price limit and also stick with it. When we have been unhappy with a salesperson we have thanked them and immediately left the business.

We have 4 kids so we consider all the safety features, such as iso fix for car seats, how many airbags, boot space (will it fit a pram and our shopping), general space, etc. look around at prices online both new and used and compare the features, you can use this for bargaining if purchasing used. Check if the cars are still under warranty, have them checked by a trusted mechanic before purchasing and try look up any history on the car if possible.

It’s such a hard task, we went back and forth when we bought ours a few months back.
If it’s a used car, consider if you’re going to sell it on in a few years time. Then you might want a newer year model. And low km’s.
If new, ensure it has the features you feel are necessary and desirable for a car. Look into safety ratings, and if there are reviews for the particular year and make to see if there are persistent issues other owners have experienced.

Always have it checked by a mechanic. We learnt the hard way.