Many women feel they are at a disadvantage when looking to buy a car, because of their gender.
According to Motorpoint female motorists are 39 per cent less likely than men to feel confident when it comes to buying a car. But it doesn’t need to be a daunting experience.
Motorpoint is dedicated to putting your needs first and making sure you don’t feel pressured into buying a car you’re not sure about.
Laura Wright, general sales manager at Motorpoint has answered some of the most common questions when it comes to car shopping and has shared some great tips to consider if you’re looking to upgrade your car.
How do you know if you are getting a good price for your new car?
Opting for nearly new is a great way to get more for your money compared with buying a brand-new car. According to Motorpoint’s research, you could save up to £7,000 on average by opting for a nearly new car – meaning you might be able to consider larger, higher specification or more premium models that would otherwise be out of budget.
Laura says there’s still a bit of a misconception that you need to haggle down the price when buying a car, but this isn’t the case anymore. At Motorpoint, the price you see is always the lowest price it can offer, and the Motorpoint Price Promise means there’s never any need to negotiate as Motorpoint has confidence that it can’t be beaten on price.
But if you want to shop around and check how much the same car is elsewhere, keep in mind that age, specification, condition and mileage are major factors in a vehicle’s price.
What should you consider when looking for your next car?
Laura recommends that you consider why you are upgrading and find out what’s most important to you when shopping for your next car. Having a clear idea about non-negotiables is a great way to scale down the number of cars you need to consider without overlooking any that could be a good fit for you.
For example, if you are looking for your next family car and know you want a five-door automatic with lots of boot space, but don’t mind the brand – whether you use online filters or speak to a member of the sales team – you might find that the perfect car for you is one you haven’t considered before.
Have an open mind and be willing to test drive a couple of different cars. A test drive is your chance to put a car under scrutiny and make sure it’s the right fit for you.
Rather than focusing your attention on any new or hidden features that you don’t have in your current car, consider how well the car will fit into your everyday life and think about whether it would be comfortable to drive long-term.
Motorpoint’s research revealed that while female motorists were more likely to only buy a car that they had already test-driven, seven-in-10 weren’t confident about the process. While it might feel a bit daunting to get in a car you’ve never driven before, a test drive is your chance to check some of the more practical elements of a car, for example:
- Will it work for me day-to-day?
- Is it comfortable to drive?
- Is there enough storage?
- Does it meet all my non-negotiable criteria?
What can you expect when shopping for your next car in person?
According to Motorpoint’s research, three-fifths of female motorists said they don’t feel comfortable shopping for a car in person – and just a third would be comfortable speaking with a car salesperson.
According to Laura, negative stereotypes could be feeding into people’s nervousness when it comes to buying a car. Motorpoint doesn’t want anyone to feel pressured, that’s why the team are on hand to offer as much or as little support as needed, so you’re happy with your purchase for years to come.
Make notes of questions you want to ask, that way when you do speak with a salesperson you can be sure you are getting all your questions answered and feel in control.
If you are still worried about what to expect, you can always check online reviews to get an idea of how other people have found their experience or consider starting your car buying journey online, over the phone or through web chat – you can even get your new car delivered straight to your door.
What protection do you have after you’ve bought the car?
Laura added it’s a common misconception that buying a nearly new car means that you don’t have any protection if something goes wrong, but that isn’t the case. She suggests making sure that you are clear about the level of care and attention that has been paid to a vehicle before it went on sale.
For example, at Motorpoint, every car sold has gone through a rigorous vetting process to ensure it meets the Quality Standard and has been checked by a team of highly trained technicians.
If you are looking at a nearly new car, the vast majority will still be under the manufacturer’s warranty. At Motorpoint, all cars come with the manufacturer’s remaining warranty or three months Motorpoint warranty as standard.
If you want added peace of mind, you can always add an extended warranty with up to two years of cover – so you can be confident that there’ll always be someone on hand, should you need it.
Learn more about why there is no car like a Motorpoint car and shop thousands of hand-picked vehicles from over 30 manufacturers at www.motorpoint.co.uk.
To test drive your next car or speak to a member of the team in person, you can visit one of Motorpoint’s 20 stores nationwide – find your nearest store here.