The coronavirus crisis has brought a halt to the car industry across the board. Factories have slowed or stopped production and dealerships and used car forecourts are looking at inventive ways to support customers despite test driving becoming impossible due to social distancing.
The good news, though, is that while the country is in lockdown, there’s more time to research your next car purchase than ever, so that when restrictions are lifted you’ll be armed with all the right information to buy with total confidence.
Motors.co.uk has a range of features on their website to be able to give you all the information you need to make the smartest decision when it comes to your next car purchase. These are designed to guide through the whole process from researching and financing, as well as getting the best possible deal and part exchanging.
It’s worth remembering that the advice here is correct at the time of writing, and that even if you’ve found your ideal car you shouldn’t leave the house to see it. Many dealers are currently taking deposits for cars they have in stock so that potential buyers can secure them prior to the lockdown being lifted. We’d advise that this is the best course of action for now – though researching from home is still safe, easy and free to do – so now could be a great time to do the groundwork for your next car purchase.
New and Used Car Smart Search
Whether it’s a new or used car you’re looking to buy, there’s no shortage of choice out there, and to many that can be daunting. But if you don’t know where to start then the Motors ‘Smart Search’ could be the best place to kick things off. Simply answer eight questions about your budget, lifestyle and tech you might want, then sit back as the clever algorithms produce a list of options that best suit your requirements.
Alternatively, if you know which vehicle you’re looking for, you can follow the quick search on the homepage whereby you simply enter in the car’s details, including make, model, budget and location and it will show you what’s available in your area. It’s also worth creating a “My Garage” account, where you can create a shortlist and compare vehicles, as well as a saved search alert for emails of the latest cars in their search sent straight to their inbox.
Finance Calculator
It’s important to know that when you’ve found the car you’re looking for, you can afford to not only buy it but run it too. That’s where the Motors.co.uk finance calculator comes in. By working out how much you can afford monthly and what deposit you have available, you can search for options close to you. You can also use the calculator to search through finance providers who offer the most suitable car loan that best suits you.
You can also get an accurate understanding of how much your next car will cost you by using our Car Price Guide tool. This uses live Motors data to give you an up to date, accurate indication of vehicle costs, not only that, you can compare vehicles and features too.
Advice and reviews
Shopping around for a new or used car can be a minefield, with so many different makes, models, trim levels and body styles available. That’s where our team of motoring experts step in to help you through the process by keeping you up to date with the latest news and car reviews, both in written and video form. If you want to know about running costs, value for money, how the cars drive, tech available, which spec to go for and build quality then our reviews will help arm you with everything you need to know to help you whittle down your list.
Now it’s very easy to find a car online that you instantly fall in love with, but there are a few things you need to do before you go for a test drive. These range from safety around the actual buying process, both physically and financially, through to online vehicle checks to make sure the car you’re looking at offers good value for money.
With that in mind, there’s a section on car buying which gives you all the best tips including how to deal with sellers, what to look for, the best time to buy as well as your rights.
Also if you want to find out about some car hacks, then there’s a section dedicated to everything from making your headlights shine with toothpaste to checking your tyre tread with a 20 pence piece. With the ever-growing popularity of electric and hybrid cars, there’s a section dedicated to understanding everything you need to know about these cars.
Used car valuation tool
If you’re in a position to use an existing car either as a part exchange or to sell privately and use the money as a deposit, then you can use the Motors.co.uk Used Car Valuation tool to get an indication of what your car is worth.
Here you can simply type in your car’s registration number, the mileage and your postcode and once you confirm the vehicle details, you’ll get a rough valuation. While this doesn’t take into account any cosmetic or mechanical issues, it will give you a rough idea of what it’s worth as a part exchange or private sale.
Should you decide to go down the private sale route, and you’re ready to sell, then we’ve got all the tips you’ll need on what to do when it comes to selling your car, and helping you get the best price possible, from preparation and advertising through to paperwork needed.
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