Top 10 car buying tips for every type of car buyer

Buying a car can be a complicated endeavor. Without a platform like AutoDeal, where we’ve streamlined and simplified the car buying process, you would have to resort to the traditional way of purchasing a vehicle. What does that entail? Spending hours at dealerships, talking with countless sales agents, receiving a subpar deal, and more inconveniences.

Whether you’re a first-time car buyer or a seasoned veteran looking for your next ride, these tips can help you purchase an automobile without all the unnecessary trouble. Here are our top 10 car buying tips for every type of car buyer. 

Cars aren’t cheap. If there’s anything most buyers can agree on, it’s that. Buying a new vehicle requires a considerable investment, and you have to know how much you’re willing to pay before you start looking for models.

Could you only spend less than a million pesos? Maybe under two million for a peppy sports sedan, or under three for a quality family SUV. Whatever you want to spend, you have to find that out before you do anything else. It will help you limit your options to a manageable amount and keep you from straying from the list of models you can afford. 

Even if you already know the model you’re getting from the get go, it could be useful to compare it against other vehicles, if only to get a better idea of how you’re about to spend your money. On AutoDeal, you can simply find a car on our Car Guide and see its most common comparisons by going to the Compare tab.

Something like the Ford Territory, for example, is most often compared to the Geely Coolray, Toyota Corolla Cross, Honda HR-V, and other crossovers. You’ll be able to compare up to three models and find the similarities and differences in specs, features, and prices.

Once you’ve found the vehicle of your choice, you’d want to get the best deal available. It’s simple with AutoDeal, as you can get a quote at absolutely no cost from multiple partner dealers to see which deal is the most attractive for you.

Our platform also collates many of the best car promos from leading automotive brands in the Philippines. At any given moment, you may find low down payment promos, low monthly promos, exciting freebies, and more.

Before you pull the trigger on a new car purchase, you might do well to step back and gather more information. You can scour different sources on the internet to get a wide range of opinions. 

You can get firsthand owner’s experience stories by joining a local model ownership club’s social media group. For more general car knowledge, the AutoDeal Community on Facebook brings together like-minded car enthusiasts and prospective car buyers and helps give a voice to every member.

While we’re on the topic of research, it’s a good idea to watch car video reviews on models you’re interested in. The AutoDeal YouTube channel is home to countless video reviews about many of the country’s most popular car models.

If you haven’t already checked it out, now would be a good time to do so. You’d be introduced to Caco, our sprightly, award-winning host, and Video Creative Director. Are videos not your thing? We also have a packed selection of written car reviews for your convenience. Our reviews, whether in video or written form, can help you make better-informed decisions before you buy a car.

Auto insurance is a must in today’s driving climate. As more and more cars pack our already congested roads, the risk of accidents have likely never been higher. Having said that, preparing comprehensive insurance before you buy a new vehicle is the right thing to do.

With our Insurance Calculator, you can find and compare quotes from several of the country’s top insurance providers. Simply select a model and variant, select your preferred coverage, and wait only up to two business days to receive your e-policy in your email inbox.

As you transition to the later stages of the car buying process, going for a test drive may be high up on your to-do list. There’s nothing like experiencing being behind the wheel for yourself, after all. Requesting a test drive is quick and easy on AutoDeal.

To start, go to your chosen model’s Car Guide, click the Request A Test Drive button on the right-hand side of the page, and fill in your details on the next page. The dealer will then contact you to finalize your test-drive schedule.

While new cars typically won’t give you problems right out of the showroom, it wouldn’t hurt to bring your trusted mechanic to look under the hood and poke around the engine bay. You never know if the dealer might have missed something with that particular model.

Your new car purchase will include warranty coverage, but if something does go wrong within the first few weeks or days, it will prevent you from enjoying your vehicle to the fullest. By bringing a mechanic with you, you’d be giving yourself an additional layer of protection. You can also bring your trusted mechanic along if you are also looking to buy a second hand vehicle. 

As we’ve said before, buying a car is always a big decision, and almost always not something you should do on your own. So, when you’re ready to buy, bring a close friend or family member with you to the dealership. 

They might be able to help you see details you otherwise would have missed or tell you things about the car that you might have forgotten. If the person you bring knows more about cars than you do, then it’s all the more beneficial for you.

You might think the car-buying journey ends once you drive your shiny new car out of the dealership lot, but that’s a common misconception. You still have to consider how much you’ll be paying in preventive maintenance and other after-sales services.

Before signing your name on the dotted line, ask the dealership about maintenance costs and how much you can expect to pay over the lifespan of your vehicle. It would help you plan your car-related expenses way ahead of time while giving you a full picture of what it’s like to own that particular car.