When buying a car from a dealership, you will quickly find out that it is not just the vehicle itself that is for sale. Car salespeople will also try to sell you a host of add-ons and this can make what is already a difficult financial decision one that is even more stressful. This post will offer advice on what extras you might need, ones that are best avoided and ways to save money.
Common Add-Ons
There are many add-ons that you are likely to be told about and it is helpful to be aware of what these are before you head to the dealership. The most common extras include service plans, an extended warranty, fabric protection, chip and dent protection, wheel and tyre cover and gap insurance with the possibility of a few others. Many will ask “is gap insurance worth it?”, but you only have to look at the rate of deprecation to see how much you could lose without a gap insurance policy in place.
Why Shopping Online Could Be Best
Many of the above add-ons should be considered and could improve your ownership experience and save you money. However, you might find that it is actually best to buy these add-ons online from a specialist as opposed to from the dealership. This is because a specialist will often give you better deals, better customer service and more flexible options compared to a dealership. Gap insurance is a good example of this as you can get better deals along with flexible cover when you buy online from a specialist.
Which Add-Ons to Consider
So, what add-ons should you consider and which are best avoided? As mentioned, gap insurance is smart because it could save you a fortune if you write the car off. In this situation, you would only receive the current market value and this could leave you short by thousands of pounds. An extended warranty should also be considered if the manufacturer warranty has expired so that the cost of electrical and mechanical faults will be covered. Both of these policies could save you a lot of money while also providing peace of mind.
Generally, you will find that all other extras are best avoided. Wheel and tyre cover is often included in your insurance policy while other add-ons do not make much financial sense and should be avoided.
It is important to be prepared when you visit a dealership to talk about extras. A car salesperson will try all the tricks in the book to get you to sign up for various different add-ons, but not all of these are worthwhile and you are probably better off looking online for a better deal from a specialist.
