How To Buy A Cheap Car: 7 Tips The Trade Doesn't Want You To Know

Not everyone wants to buy a 'cheap' car, but no-one wants to pay too much, right? We all want to think that we've got a bargain, even if we've just bought a 50,000+ Range Rover. But finding bargains at any level when it comes to cars isn't always easy - but it can be!

When I was working directly in the motor trade myself, I would get 20%, 30% and sometimes even more discount on new cars that I would sell on to the public after keeping a share for myself. I don't sell cars any more, and I'm ready to tell you my secrets.

If you choose you're moment, you can get a great deal. No dealer will turn you away because you're buying at the wrong time, but the last week of every quarter (March, June, September and December) sees a rush to get registrations, and manufacturers give dealers bonus money for taxing cars then, and the dealers will pass that on to you for being in the right place at the right time.

Rather than buying a new car, consider a demonstrator model, dealers get extra discount for running these cars, but what's more important is that the salesman running them also wants a new car. He often won't care about how much profit is in the deal, because he can't have his new model until he's sold his old car.

When manufacturers put bonuses on to get more registrations, some dealers will register 10, 20 or even more of these cars in their own name to hit targets. Then they'll offer these 'pre-registered' cars at knock down prices to clear their stock before starting the game all over again, The cars are brand new and haven't moved an inch - but they could be two or three thousands pounds cheaper than list price.

Using the dealers own finance company is also a way of saving money when you're buying a car. Most manufacturers have their own finance company that they either own outright or have a partnership with a bank. Their rates are priced to make a car look attractive to you, and they will almost always be cheaper than the bank - all you have to do is ask for their best rate.

Most people when they buy a new car have one to put in part exchange, but very few people get the best price for it, even though you already know how - you just don't know that you know it. When you go to buy a car, you expect it to be clean, smelling nice, without any scuffs or scratches, right? Well if your car is clean, smelling nice and well polished a dealer will fall for your car the same way that you fall for theirs - just make it look the best you can, and you'll get the best offers!

Don't just stick to new cars either. You can save a fortune buying something that is six months old with four or five thousand miles on the clock. There's an entire industry built around this - it's called remarketing. Essentially, the giant rental companies like Hertz and Avis sell their six month old cars to dealers through either existing ties or 'closed auctions'. These cars are cheap because of the huge discount they get from car manufacturers for buying in bulk - sometimes thousands of cars at a time. They run them for a short while, then sell them at a profit to dealers, and it's here that you can save really big money, because these cars really are as good as new, with long manufacturers warranties and in tip top condition.