Giles Chapman

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Whether you are buying new or second-hand there are some golden rules you should employ on the forecourt. But the most important thing to bear in mind is that you should be properly prepared and well informed – otherwise you won’t know whether you are getting a good deal!

• Do your homework. What are the ‘must have’ things you need for your car? For instance, you might want air conditioning, room for three child seats or plenty of luggage space. If you can, choose the type of car you want and stick with your decision.

• Dress as if you mean business. Rightly or wrongly your appearance will determine how the salesman treats you, so don’t turn up looking too scruffy.

• Have a good idea of the value of the car you are looking to buy. Decide on your maximum price and stick to it.

• Be confident. You are the one with the upper hand: you can go elsewhere! Remember the salesman has targets to meet – he might call you back as you walk away.

• Don’t be afraid to haggle – the price will include a margin for negotiation.

• Remember if you get a good price on your new vehicle you will not get such a good deal on the trade-in value of your old one if this is part of the deal.

• If you reach a stalemate on the price of a new car, try to negotiate on upgrades such as a better stereo, heated seats or metallic paint.

• Don’t cave in to salesman pressure to agree to a deal on the spot; step away and consider the offer and then return later when you’ve thought it through.

• Test-drive as many cars as you need to find the right one. Test drives should be done on reasonably fast roads with several bends so you will get to hear any knocks in suspension, steering or driveshafts; these will be the expensive things to fix later if they need attention.

• Beware of taking the dealer’s finance, even if there are special offers that go with it. Forecourt finance is generally the most expensive option. Getting your finance sorted out in advance makes you a cash buyer and you might well get a better deal as a result!

• Do some homework: go to the AA Car Buyer’s Guide which will help you through your car buying options – even if you’re unsure of what you want. It provides car reviews, price information; fuel economy and safety ratings for thousands of cars; recall information and much more.

• Get an insurance quote before you buy. It’d be a shame to set your heart on a particular model only to find that insurance is prohibitive – especially if you are young and going for a powerful model.