7 important questions to ask yourself before buying a car in Kenya

“What does one need to consider in order to buy a car” is one of the important questions one should ask him or herself before buying a car.

Below are 7 points that you should take into serious consideration whenever you’re buying a car (even if it’s not your first time).

1.  Mileage

This is particularly important for internet shoppers who might not have seen the car yet. You should ask about this especially if you’re buying a used one.

2. Will you be able to maintain it?

Don’t find out too late that you can afford to buy the car, but you can’t afford to own it due to operating expenses, insurance, fuel, annual excise taxes, and other costs of ownership.

You’re definitely not ready to buy a new car until you’ve researched and considered this information.

3.What are your reasons for buying a car?

Do you just want to move from point A to B, need a car for business or for family?

When buying a car there are key reasons of needing it and they should guide you in purchasing the perfect one.

4. How much do you have to spend on a car?

There are so many creative ways to finance a car that you may fool yourself into thinking that you can afford to buy a more expensive car then you should.

One basic rule of thumb is that you should finance your car for a three year term. If you cannot afford the payment that accompanies this amount, then you cannot afford the car.

Your job situation will change, but should likely remain stable for around three years. Additionally you should avoid trading in your car and rolling the old loan into a new one.

5. should you buy new or used?

It may be difficult to choose between a new and used car. When you buy a new car you immediately lose two or three thousand dollars.

The car depreciates that much once you drive off of the lot. If you can afford to lose that much money, go ahead and buy new. If you buy a car between three and five years old you will avoid losing very much in depreciation of value. If you are worried about buying a used car you can find cars with warranties available or cars that are certified by the dealers or makers of the car. You may be able to save money by buying directly from a private seller, If you choose this option, have the care checked by a mechanic before you make the purchase. This should help you save money.

6. Resale of the car

You’ll need to take into consideration if you will be reselling your car after a while. For many, buying a car is a dream, upgrading to an even better one is something they look forward to even more. So take think about the resale value of your new purchase so that you won’t have to dig deeper into your pocket when it’s time to upgrade.