Buying a car is hardly the best investment in the world when it comes to making a profit. If anything, it’s going to depreciate over time and cause you a lot more expense.

However, great value with a car doesn’t often come as a monetary benefit. In fact, it’s more to do with the performance and the length of time you get out of your car.

Each car is different, which is why it’s worth approaching every car purchase individually. Here are some top tips to get great value for money when buying a car.

Ask yourself - do you really need a brand-new car?

Firstly, ask yourself do you need to have a brand-new car. While a brand-new car can provide some benefits, they are often the ones that can cause the most financial impact on your savings. Some choose to buy a car outright, while others choose to finance a new car.

It’s worth asking whether a new car is worth you investing in, or if you should expand your search to used cars too. While there may be some good deals on brand-new cars, you’re going to find a lot of depreciation as the first owner of a new car.

Trade in any old cars

When it comes to getting value for money when buying a car, think about trading in any old cars that offer no value to you any more. After all, if the car is ending up costing more to repair and maintain than what it’s actually worth, it’s best to trade it in when getting a newer or updated model.

Trading your car in might surprise you with how much you get for it. That money can then go towards your new car, whatever it might be.

Shop around for car dealerships

To avoid being scammed or getting a car that wasn’t quite what you expected, it’s good to opt for a car dealership. At the same time though, in order to get the best deal you want to shop around. From Audi dealerships that sell one car brand directly, there are also dealerships out there that offer a range of car models and makes.

Find models that best hold their value

While it’s hard to find a car that will maintain or even increase in value since the time you bought it, there are those that best hold their value over time. It’s worth doing the research to understand which makes and models are the best value for money because they offer very little depreciation over time.

Being able to make a minimal loss on a car, is a winning situation to be in as a car owner.

Think about running costs

Finally, be sure to think about the running costs that come with any car. In order to get value for your money, you want a low-maintenance and low-running cost vehicle for you and your household.

These tips will hopefully ensure your money is well spent when it comes to buying a new car in the future.