5 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Car

Buying a car is usually eventful in almost every person’s life. We always tend to do a lot of research and contemplation before buying a car. As much as it is exciting, it is also quite an intimidating process as well. After all, we don’t make such purchases every day. So if you are planning to buy a car, you must consider these 5 factors before you go ahead with the purchase:

Budget Consideration

Budget must be an important consideration made before finalizing a car. Remember you pay from your pockets and the car you choose should be budget-friendly and not leave a hole in your pockets. So, make this important decision keeping your finances in mind.

One must also remember that the ex-showroom price is always lesser than the on-road price, so wisely considering the criteria one should finalize the budget. It is also a safe bet to consider one’s annual income and not indulge in spending more than half their annual income on buying a car. However, one always has options like a car loan to consider which again come with interest charges which need to be considered in the calculations while finalizing your budget.

Family Size = Car Size Consideration

Although it may be a daunting process to choose the right car, it isn’t so difficult. Considering a car that suits your driving skill and that meets the need of your family size should be considered. Like, a 4 member family needs a basic hatchback or sedan and not an 8-seater SUV, unless that’s your choice and meets your budget. Otherwise, it is wise to consider a normal 5-seater option, as a practical option. this will be a helpful consideration in narrowing down your search for an ideal car.

Safety & Engine Specification Consideration

Safety is one the most important thing to consider when choosing a car. After all, it is a matter of your life, which leaves no place for negotiation. Like the latest safety protocol for 4-wheelers in India – 6-air bags are made mandatory, which is a safety feature that is crucial.

Other safety features like ABS, reverse sensors, build quality of the car, etc help in determining the safety a car can provide in case of any mishap or to avoid any mishap.

Engine Specification also plays a vital role in making the right selection for the car. The engine features help in determining the efficiency of the car. Again depending upon ones driving abilities and liking, one must consider buying a fast or a normal speed engine. All cars have different accelerations and depending on your choice of speed and acceleration, you must consider the engine strength for your drive.

Make sure the car isn’t an elephant in the house to maintain in the long run. So always research well about aftercare and maintenance before buying a car.

Test-Drive the Vehicle of Choice Before Buying

Test driving the vehicles you short-list is a wise option since it will give you a first-hand experience of how you feel about the car, you are considering to buy. Test-drive option is available at all showrooms, so always consider utilizing it. It will help you gauge the car’s functionality and mechanisms and your comfort with the same. It will help you check the leg and headroom and see whether it meets your comfort requirement.

Documents at Hand

Lastly, it is very important to have all the needed documents at hand when planning to make the purchase of the car.

As soon as you buy the car, the first thing you need to do is register it at the nearest RTO & pay the registration tax. To make the registration a smooth process, keep the following documents handy:

• Form 20
• Form 21
• Form 22
• Form 34
• Identity proof
• Address Proof
• Photographs

Not only that, but to ensure hassle-free, penalty-free driving, you should always have these documents in the dashboard of your car:

• Driving License
• Car Insurance
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
• Registration Card of the car

Looking at the whole picture before making the big purchase is a whole lot beneficial, as it is like bringing a new baby home that needs a lot of attention and consideration. Apart from the above, don’t forget to be aware of basic things like how to change a flat tire, how far you can drive on reserve fuel, how to check various fluid levels in your car, etc.