How To Get Cheap Car Quotes

Introduction

How to get cheap car quotes? It is a dilemma faced by many people when looking to replace an existing car or when searching for a car for the first time. It applies whether you are looking for new BMW cars, Audi cars and other models of new cars or a used car of any description. Knowing where to look for cheap car quotes and the best car offers is important to enable you to avoid paying too much for a car, therefore saving you money which can be used elsewhere. We offer a practical guide to show you how to find cheap car quotes and avoid getting ripped off by excessive prices.

1. Research Your Preferred Car

Before you can find cheap car quotes you need to first have an overview of the model of car that you would like to buy. The best way to do this is to draw upon your own knowledge and experience or read reviews of leading car manufacturers online, through sites like Parkers, What Car and Top Gear. It is also a good idea to understand exactly why you need the car. Do you need more seats due to a growing family, are safety features like roll bars and dual airbags or rear airbags important, are you looking for a performance car to use in your leisure time or are you seeking to reduce your carbon footprint with a fuel efficient city car?

It is advisable to create a shortlist of no more than ten cars that you think may be ideal for your personal circumstances and write these down.

Here’s an example of how your car shortlist might look;

1. Ford Fiesta

2. Vauxhall Corsa

3. Ford Focus

4. Vauxhall Astra

5. Volkswagen Golf

6. Peugeot 207

7. Mini

8. BMW 3 Series

9. Toyota Yaris

10. BMW 1 Series

Next visit Parkers or AutoTrader which have an excellent online library of cars and will provide you with a guide price that you should expect to pay based on the make, model, year of registration, number of doors and the engine size. Once you have a guide price you can then effectively compare any car prices to ensure that you get a cheap car quote which is more in keeping with your budget. Parkers & Autotrader will also ensure that you avoid getting ripped off by unscrupulous sellers seeking to make a quick profit at your expense.

2. Be Prepared

Using your prepared car shortlist you need to generate a clear idea of the car make and model and the features you want with the vehicle and note these down alongside each of the vehicles on your shortlist. The reason for this is that many car dealers or private car sellers may try to talk you into making a car purchase that you do not need, but having a clear understanding of what you want will enable you to stand firm. In addition when the seller can’t meet the expectations on your list they may be more willing to supply you with cheaper car quotes than the advertised price on the models on your shortlist, especially if they sense a quick sale. Remember that the more barriers you present as to why a particular car is not suitable the more the seller may be willing to come back with cheap car quotes.

3. Take Your Time

Allow plenty of time to obtain car quotes on your shortlist of vehicles. Try not to buy in a rush but plan ahead where possible. The more time you have available in which to buy a car the more likely you are to secure cheap car quotes because you can wait for the right deal. This will also make the seller work harder to get your custom and they may come up with some highly competitive cheap car quotes on the car models that you have in mind.

Top Tip: Start looking for a car at least six months before you actually need to enable you to scan the latest deals and monitor prices so that you can spot the right time to secure cheap car quotes that meet with your satisfaction.

4. Pit Sellers Against Each Other.

A key element to obtaining cheap car quotes is to build the perception that the seller is competing for your money. As such mention that you have been provided with a cheaper car quote for the same car model at rival seller. This invites the seller to consider offering cheap car quotes that are even more competitive or to match the car quotes provided in order to secure a car sale. Remember that most sellers will deliberately advertise a car at a higher price in order to accommodate price negotiations with buyers, so they expect to haggle with you.

5. Offer A Cash Payment

Car sellers love cash payments because they are immediate and they do not run the risk of a cheque payment failing to clear and nor to they have to pay the standard 2.5% that most companies charge for them receiving payment by credit card. It is normally possible to get cheap car quotes by offering the value of the car in cash, so if you are happy with the car make and model ask a question like “What price would you offer me if I paid in cash?” or “What’s the best price you could offer on this car for a cash sale?” You will be amazed at the cheap car quotes that sellers will provide for a cash sale!

6. Offer A Deposit

Sometimes ensuring cheap car quotes on your preferred car models involves offering a deposit to demonstrate your commitment to a future sale. Most sellers, especially car dealerships, make dozens of car quotes each week especially on new models that have just been released. Most of the time these car quotes will come to nothing and a potential buyer will fail to follow through on the sale. However if a seller is aware that you are committed to buy from them rather than go to another seller, offering a deposit in advance may secure you cheap car quotes. Ask a question like “What price will you offer me if I place a deposit on this model today?”

7. Buy Close To Car Registration Plate Changes

Another effective way to obtain cheap car quotes is by making your purchase either immediately before or after a car registration plate change. Plate registration changes occur in September and January each year. Many dealerships will be keen to reduce stock levels of existing cars to give them more room to display the latest car registration plates in their showrooms and as such it is highly likely that you can negotiate a cheaper car quote on the make and model of vehicle that you want. Even private sellers will be keen to make a sale before a plate registration change for the simple reason that their car may lose substantial value after the event and as such you can use this to your advantage in securing cheap car quotes on the car models that you are interested in buying.

8. Buy A Car Online

The internet is the best place to compare car prices and find the best car deals and you are likely to be able to get cheap car quotes than are available in your immediate locality because you can look at cars across the country as a whole. For example you may live in the London area where car prices are higher due to higher overheads and the cost of living. However by comparing car prices online you may find the makes and models of car you want and get cheap car quotes because the cost of maintaining an internet site is less expensive. In general most online car seller or car dealers will be able to offer you between 14% - 20% cheaper car quotes because the cost of running an internet site is significantly cheaper than the cost of running a physical showroom.

9. Take Your Time Responding To Car Quotes From Sellers

Consider making an enquiry and obtain a car quote from a seller or dealership and then take your time responding. Sellers will normally chase up previous customer enquiries and leads when they are running low on sales for a particular month. It is likely that they will get back in contact allowing you to negotiate a cheaper car quote than you would otherwise have been able to.

10. Avoid Optional Extras

The key to negotiating cheap car quotes is focusing on what you actually need rather than want you would like. Optional extras are an ideal way for a car seller, normally a dealership to encourage you to spend more than you really need. Think seriously about whether you need optional extras like a sun roof, specialist tyres, bespoke paint and other features as doing without them is likely to lead to cheaper car quotes.

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Disclaimer: I am not a financial professional and no content within this website should be considered financial advice, please consult a qualified financial advisor before attempting any of the ideas on this site. All links to third party sites, shown on this website are provided in good faith and visitors click on them at their own risk, we cannot be held liable for their content, or that of advertisements displayed on this website.