10 things to consider before buying a car in the Philippines

Buying a new car is an important decision. Spending a little time to research, you would be able to find a suitable car which you won't regret buying.

1. Evaluate your needs

You can have your wishes about what you want in a car, but think more about your real needs, not just for the short-term but also in the future. Here are some suggestions:

• How many people will you carry?
• What kind of car do you prefer: street, dirt road or off-road?
• Do you experience cold winters?
• Do you work near or far your home? Are fuel-efficiency indicators really important to you?
• Do you need an active four-wheel-drive system?
• What safety features you want to prioritize?
• Do you often carry a lot of stuff?
• Do you have your own garage or use shared parking lot?

You can have your wishes about what you want in a car, but think more about your real needs

2. Plan your budget for the car

Unless you have an available fund, if you intend to purchase a car with installment payment, you need to calculate the monthly payment. The common rule is not to pay more than 20% of your monthly income for installment buying.

>>> Read also: 6 useful tips to buy a new car at the lowest possible price

3. Decide whether to buy or rent a car

Both car hire and purchase have its pros and cons. Renting a car does not require to pay a large amount of money whilst you still have a vehicle for daily use. You can also switch cars as your preference without having to stick with one for years. Additionally, you can have expensive cars with less money.

However, buying a car has its own advantages. You can sell it whenever you want. You can rebuild or upgrade it the way you want. You can also drive more comfortably as there’re no worries about where to go to keep the driving distance in the regulated zone. In the long run, cost of buying a car will be much lower than renting.

Renting a car does not require to pay a large amount of money whilst you still have a vehicle for daily use

4. Select proper segment

If you are really passionate about a particular vehicle type, the choice will be easy. However, many people are confused with hundreds of models surrounding in the market. To make it easier, you can imagine your future car with consideration about identified segment, pros and cons of each brand.

Then go ahead to check the prices, specifications, and features of each type. You can also compare with other models to find the most outstanding car in the segment.

Compare with other models to find the most outstanding car in the segment

5. Consider usage cost

Some models offer cheap purchasing prices but it comes with high usage cost. If two models are at the same price, you can compare depreciation rate of each model to decide.

The car usage expenditure includes insurance, depreciation, maintenance and fuel costs. Making a right choice can save you tens of thousands of dollars after a few years of use.

6. Find a proper car

Years ago, to buy a car, you have to go to see agents and learn about each type. Nowadays, you can easily surf the Internet to find all information you need.

Just select the model, manufacture year and vehicle condition on the online website, then click on the result. Next, contact your dealer to confirm the availability of the car. Finally, go to the dealer and experience the product yourself.

>>> Also check out: Which car is suitable for you?

7. Drive test

After picking up the car you like, contact the seller to schedule a test drive. Salespersons will arrange a meeting with you to drive and experience the product. They would be very supportive until you find the right car.

After picking up the car you like, contact the seller to schedule a test drive

8. Criteria to consider in your drive test

The car may possess many features you want, yet you can change your mind when sitting on the driver's seat. You should try the way you drive every day to find the right car.

If you normally commute to work, drive in the city or highways, look for models with multiple operating modes to save fuel and time. If you are on off-road regularly, look for SUVs and have your test drive in rough terrain. Also, don’t forget to test the car performance when climbing and braking to ensure its safety features.

If you plan to have a baby chair on your car, bring it with you to try it.

During your test, just drive calmly and don’t be too stressed, make sure to check all functions and features. You should also need to turn off the music to hear the engine sound.

9. Select your car

After testing some models, you have a clear idea of your desired vehicle. However, you will need a few hours to experience it enough.

Making the right decision is extremely important as most cars have many similar safety conditions and modern features today. The final decision depends on your personal feelings.

10. Purchase decision

Finally, make your decisions, such as whether to spend money on this car or not, use the money you already have or borrow from somewhere? Also, make sure to prepare parking space before driving your car back home.

Finally, make your decisions, such as whether to spend money on this car or not

>>> More useful tips for car buying on Philkotse.com:

• 7 must-know things to consider before buying a used car
• ​6 questions to ask the seller before buying a used car