Car Buying Guide: Tips For Buying a Car The Smart Way

How To Buy a Car?

Purchasing a car may sound like a straightforward task, but the endless list of models available at your disposal makes it a difficult task. The confusion while choosing a car compounds if you are buying a car for the first time. A detailed car buying guide can make your life easier in such situations.

Buying a new car depends on several factors, including your budget, usage, driving style, and preferred features. One of the key things to know before buying a car is to assess your needs clearly. Researching different models, comparing features, and checking reviews can help you make an informed choice that fits your lifestyle and finances.

Tips For Buying a New Car

Looking to buy a new car? Here are some essential car buying tips to help you make the right choice:

1. Purpose and Usage

Before initiating the research on the type of car you are looking to buy, two crucial questions need to be answered. What is the purpose of purchasing the car, and what is its usage? 

• Have clarity on the purpose behind the purchase. Is it for daily commuting within the city or long drives.
   
• Determine the number of passengers you're expecting to accompany you so that you can choose the vehicle as on the seating capacity of your preference.

Once the purpose is clear, the next question to be answered is the usage. Where are you going to drive the car? Is it on highways, city roads or off-road? Your choice will vary depending on your use. For instance, if you will be driving on congested city roads, a hatchback car would be a sensible option.

2. Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying a Car

Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself before buying a car.

• What is your driving experience? Your driving experience matters a lot while choosing a new car. If you are an experienced driver, you may opt for sedans or SUVs. If you are new to driving, it’s better to stick with a hatchback as it is easy to drive.
   
• Where do you drive? A hatchback would be ideal if you are driving in a metro city, as you have to deal with traffic congestion. If you are an adventure junky and wish to drive off-road, an SUV would make a lot of sense. So, it’s essential to know your driving environment before you choose a vehicle.
   
• What features are you looking for in a new car? Have a clear idea of what features you are expecting in a new car. Is it power windows, automatic gear shift, automatic AC or advanced safety equipment? Filtering the vehicles with the features you need will help you in choosing the right car.

3. Cost

Before you begin researching how to buy a car, it’s better to set a budget for your car purchase. In other words, decide on the price you are willing to pay for your new vehicle. Note that always consider the vehicle's on-road price, as it is the total cost of the car, including RTO-related expenses. Once you have determined the budget, shortlisting the cars becomes easier.

4. Online Research

Once you’re clear about your requirements and budget, the next step is thorough research. This is the best way to buy a car that truly fits your needs. Explore trusted automotive websites for expert reviews, ownership experiences, and comparison tools. You can also read detailed articles or watch videos about the models you're interested in. Solid research will help you narrow down your options and make a confident decision.

5. Automatic or Manual?

Transmission is a crucial deciding factor when you are buying a new car. The gearbox is a component of the car that directly impacts the driving experience. So, it all depends on your driving experience and the kind of terrain you are driving in. An automatic gearbox should be an ideal choice if you plan to drive the car in a city, or a first-time car buyer. If you have ample driving experience and are looking for an old-school feel of driving a car, a manual gearbox should be good for you.

6. Petrol, Diesel or CNG?

The choice of fuel depends on your budget. Typically, diesel cars cost more than cars powered by petrol engines. The same applies to the maintenance cost as well. Also, petrol engines produce less power than diesel engines. Hence, if you are not looking for a powerful car to set the roads on fire, you can opt for a petrol engine-powered car. On the other hand, if you buy an SUV or a full-size sedan, diesel should be the best option.

If you need a hatchback car for your daily city commutes, CNG fuel would be ideal. CNG fuel delivers superior fuel economy, and the cost of running is less compared to a petrol or a diesel car.

7. Test Drive

One of the most critical points to be noted while buying a car is not to rely on the specifications mentioned on paper. Instead, get a feel for the vehicle by taking a test drive. If required, test-drive all the cars that you shortlisted. A test drive gives you a clear picture of the handling, the build quality, the engine refinement, and the car's features. So, never finalise a vehicle even before taking a test drive.

8. Look For Discount Offers

Car manufacturers and dealers come up with discount offers during special occasions such as festivals or national holidays. So, plan your purchase accordingly to make use of the discount offers. Also, look out for dealer-level discounts and choose the right dealer that offers the best price. The money you save through discounts can be invested in helpful car accessories.

9. Sort Out The Finance

If you do not have adequate funds to purchase a new car, you may have to look out for financing options. One of the most common financing options is to apply for a car loan. But before that, you can check whether you have any pre-approved loans to avoid the hassle of applying for a loan. Also, be cautious while choosing the loan tenure. Opting for a 3-5 year loan tenure is logical to save yourself from paying a substantial amount of money as loan interest.

10. Exchanging or Selling Your Old Car?

If you already own a car and want to sell your used car before you buy a new one, the best option would be to exchange it at the dealership. It saves you from the hassle of finding a buyer for your old car. But note that a dealer may offer a lower price for your second-hand car. So, do your research online and offline before deciding to sell or exchange your old car.

11. Check Car Insurance Plans

Car insurance is mandatory for all cars in India. So, when you buy a new car, you have to opt for the compulsory Third-party Car Insurance Plan. But for extensive coverage, you can purchase the optional Comprehensive Insurance Plan. You can buy car insurance online at a low premium from online insurance providers such as ACKO. Purchasing online insurance is fast and hassle-free, as there is no paperwork to buy a policy at ACKO.

12. Avail No Claim Bonus

If you exchange or sell your old car, remember to transfer the No Claim Bonus (NCB) benefits to your new vehicle (if available). You may have to go through some additional procedures to transfer the NCB, but you will save on the car insurance premium for your new car.

13. Review and Buy

Once you have finalised the car and the dealership and sorted out the finance, the last step is to review the price quoted by the dealer. Research if you can get a lower price from other dealerships. If not, you can go ahead and purchase the car. You can also scout for other car buying options, such as online car buying through ACKO Drive, for attractive discount offers.

Also, make sure that the dealer does not charge you for unnecessary things like service charges, etc. The dealer should also take care of the registration process and deliver the car with a temporary/permanent registration number.

Choosing The Type of Car

Here are some reasons to consider different categories like hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), each offering unique advantages based on space, performance, and purpose:

Reasons To Buy a Hatchback

• The compact design of a hatchback is ideal for driving on roads with traffic congestion.
   
• A hatchback car is a sensible option if you are a beginner driver, thanks to its simple driving controls.
   
• It is an ideal car for a family of four with an ample amount of boot space.
   
• Low maintenance cost.
   
• You can find several budget-friendly cars in this segment, and even premium hatchbacks cost less than bigger cars.
   
• A hatchback delivers superior fuel efficiency due to the low kerb weight and smaller engine capacity.

Reasons To Buy a Sedan

• It comes with a spacious interior and comfortable seats.
   
• Offers an excellent driving experience, thanks to bigger engines and better transmission options.
   
• The aerodynamic design results in superior handling.
   
• Ideal for long drives as it offers more boot space.
   
• You can also opt for luxury sedans if you are willing to spend that kind of money.

Reasons To Buy a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)

• Spacious cabin for the passengers and can accommodate more passengers than a hatchback or sedan.
   
• Ideal for driving in hilly regions or off-road.
   
• The driver’s seat is placed much higher on an SUV, thus offering a perfect view of the road ahead.
   
• It comes equipped with bigger engines and delivers ample power and torque.

Where To Buy Your New Car?

When you think of buying a new car, the first thing that comes to your mind is the traditional offline car dealership. An offline car showroom is a place to go if you need a new car. But for that, you need to visit several dealerships, negotiate the car price to get the best deal and then book the vehicle. That’s not the end of it. If it’s a popular model, you need to wait for months to get the delivery of the car.

What if you could purchase your new car from the comfort of your home? Sounds too good to believe, right? Yes, you can now buy a new car online through the ACKO Drive platform. ACKO Drive offers you the best discounts in the market, and you will also get the delivery on a priority basis, which is much faster than industry standards. Lastly, you can find cars from different brands under one roof. All you need to do is visit the website ackodrive.com to book your new car online.

Frequently Asked Questions

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