10 tips for buying a new car

It’s sometimes said that car dealers can smell an uninformed customer when they walk in and will start circling them like sharks. Depending on what your local dealership is like, this might only be a slight exaggeration.

You don’t have to be a car enthusiast to be a well-informed, hard-haggling customer. Paying attention to these ten quick tips can make a real difference to your car and your wallet.

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1. Buy a car at the end of the month or at the end of the financial year

Plan your purchase, but don’t sign on the dotted line until near the end of the month. Many car dealers operate on monthly sales targets and may be more likely to offer discounts and free extras around this time to help meet their targets.

You can save a lot by purchasing a car during the EOFY car sales. The automotive manufacturers and dealers offer special deals and also throw in optional extras worth thousands of dollars for free.

3. Do your homework on the car you want

Learn about your chosen car's typical drive-away price before you buy, as well as which extras are tacked on and how much these are really worth. This gives you a baseline against which to haggle and consider “free” extras.

It also lets you determine how much haggling room is left when you’re quoted a price. You probably won’t get a good deal if you don’t take this step and if you do, how would you know?

5. Make dealers compete with each other

A lot of dealers might turn down an offer without hesitation, but would accept the very same offer when asked to match a competitor’s price. There’s always a better deal out there somewhere and dealers know it. Try to be in touch with more than one dealer before buying and let them compete for your business.

Know what car you want? A Car broker could save you money

With an established network of dealers, a car broker can source the vehicle you want and negotiate on your behalf to save you money.

7. Beware of unwanted extras

Dealers are always ready to generously throw in extras for free or at cost, to sweeten the deal. Think about the extras you actually want before buying and try to resist walking out with something you didn’t want.

Some of the extras you almost certainly don’t want are an extended warranty, rustproofing and paint protection. A new car already has all of these in some form and these extras are often just a sales trick.

The cost of car insurance changes a lot depending on what you’re driving. Common new cars, even the latest models, are often cheaper to insure than one would expect thanks to the availability of spare parts. Meanwhile, cars that don’t have more recent safety features such as auto braking or traction control, or cars with a poor ANCAP rating, can be considerably more expensive.

9. Make sure all the boxes are ticked before you buy

Check off these tips before buying for better luck finding a deal, but when the pen’s in your hand and the dealer is salivating over your shoulder you should ask yourself whether you have:

• Understood the terms and conditions. Make sure you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
• Been to multiple dealers. If you haven’t, then you’re almost certainly not getting the value you could be.
• Know what is and isn’t included. Be certain that you aren’t paying for unwanted extras and that you won’t be missing anything.

Your new car will need CTP insurance, and if you’ll be depending on it you might want to consider comprehensive car insurance instead of one of the more basic options.

10. Compare all your loan options

If you're planning on using a car loan or other form of finance to purchase your car, it pays to do your research. You have a lot of options when it comes to car finance, so it pays to understand how they differ, and what makes a loan more competitive than another. Along with the banks, many dealers offer car loans, and it's important to compare both to find the one that bests suits your needs.

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Name	Interest Rate (p.a.)	Comp. Rate (p.a.)	Application Fee	Monthly Fee	Monthly Repayment
Stratton Finance New Car Loan Fixed1 - 7 Years $10,000 - $300,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 6.52% to 18%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 6.95% to 23%	Application Fee $395	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $625.27	Go to siteMore Info Compare	Your own personal car loan broker can help you borrow up to $300,000 for your new car by choosing from a range of finance options.
OurMoneyMarket New Car Loan ($5,000-$100,000) Fixed1 - 7 Years $5,000 - $100,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 6.57% to 18.99%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 7.19% to 21.78%	Application Fee 1.5% - 6%	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $622.82	Go to siteMore Info Compare
Driva Car Loan Fixed or Variable1 - 7 Years $2,001 - $300,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 6.57% to 36%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 6.78% to 36%	Application Fee $0 - $500	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $613.62	Go to siteMore Info Compare	You'll receive a fixed rate from 6.57% p.a. Borrow up to $300,000 with loan terms from 1 to 7 years. Get access to a range of lenders.
RACV New Car Loans Fixed1 - 7 Years $5,000 - $150,000	Interest Rate (p.a.) 6.99% to 17.99%	Comp. Rate (p.a.) 7.69% to 18.77%	Application Fee $499	Monthly Fee $0	Monthly Repayment $632.86	Go to siteMore Info Compare	You'll receive a fixed rate from 6.99% p.a. A larger loan of $5,000 or more to help you buy a new or used car. 5-hour pre approval available and no ongoing fees.

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Product	Roadside assistance	Accidental damage	Storm	Choice of repairer	Agreed or Market Value
Promoted Youi Comprehensive Finder Award				Optional	Agreed or Market	Summary: A great value policy with exceptional customer service. Youi won the 2024 Finder Award for Customer Satisfaction. It scored highly for features and benefits, customer service and reliability. It also automatically includes roadside assistance in its price - a feature that typically costs upwards of $90 per year.	Get QuoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Promoted Coles Comprehensive Insurance	Optional			Optional	Agreed or Market	Summary: Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance includes the benefits you’d expect, plus features like grocery replacement (up to $200 if damaged or stolen. T&C’s apply). You’ll also collect 2 Flybuys points for every $1 you spend at Coles when you link your Flybuys (max cap, exclusions and eligible purchases apply). ⭐ Current offer: Collect 10,000 Flybuys Points when you take out a new Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance policy and link your Flybuys account. Offer ends 30 April 2025. Plus, save 15% on your first year’s premium when you buy online. T&Cs apply. Who it might be good for: Those who want great quality cover and more rewards with Flybuys.	Get QuoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Promoted Budget Direct Comprehensive Finder Award	Optional			Optional	Agreed or Market	Summary: The 2024 winner of our Best Value Car Insurance award. It's cheaper than most, plus you can lower costs by adding age restrictions. ⭐ Current offer: 15% off your first year's premium when you take out a policy online. T&Cs apply. Who it might be good for: Anyone who wants a good value policy.	Get QuoteView details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
National Seniors Third Party Property Damage					N/A	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
National Seniors Comprehensive					Agreed or Market	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
HSBC Third Party Property Damage					N/A	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
HSBC Comprehensive					Agreed or Market	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...
GMCU Third Party Property Damage					N/A	View details Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the best strategy to buy a new car?

  The best strategy to buy a new car includes researching models, comparing prices, securing pre-approved financing (rather than finance from the dealer) and negotiating the final price with the dealership. Consider timing your purchase during end-of-year sales, at the end of the month when sales targets need to be met, or when new models are released and "old" (but still new) models are discounted, to get the best deals.

• How do I choose a good car?

  To choose a good car, consider your needs (such as size, fuel efficiency and features), your budget, and things like reliability ratings. Test drive multiple models to assess comfort and performance, and check reviews and safety ratings before making a final decision.

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Written by

Elizabeth Barry

Journalist

Elizabeth Barry is an experienced journalist with over 10 years of expertise in personal finance, contributing to outlets like the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, and 7News. She holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Technology Sydney, and has earned multiple award nominations, including a Highly Commended recognition at the 2017 Lizzies. Elizabeth began her career at Finder in 2013, progressing through roles to become Lead Editor, where she oversaw a wide range of personal finance coverage until 2024. See full bio

Elizabeth's expertise

Elizabeth has written 210 Finder guides across topics including:

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