You may have found yourself in the market for a new family car for a variety of different reasons. Perhaps your family is expanding and you’ve found yourself in need of a larger vehicle.  Or maybe your current car is getting old and needs to be replaced. Whatever your reason, chances are you want to make sure that you are getting the best deal on whatever you choose to buy.  In that case read on to save money on your new family car. 

Millions of people today rely on their family cars to get to work, get the kids to school, and everything in between. And, the current car landscape can often be confusing with plans to phase out diesel cars.  Then replace most vehicles with electric options within the next decade. Until then, however, we’ve got some top tips here for you to help you get the best deal and save money when buying your next family vehicle.  

1. Understanding Your Usage 

Before taking the plunge and parting with your cash for a new family car, it’s important that you get a good understanding of your vehicle usage.  On top of knowing exactly what you’re going to need the car for. In the midst of the current anti-diesel narrative and concerns over CO2 emissions from petrol cars, it can be very tempting to make the switch to a hybrid or electric option.

However, if you use your family car for a lot of motorway driving, then a diesel may still be your best option when it comes to fuel economy and saving money on the running costs. Modern diesel models are more readily available.  These are better for the environment than you may think!  Whilst cheaper electric car models may not be able to do the same distance without the need for long recharging times.  

2. Check Out Government Grants 

If you’ve got your heart set on going green with your new family car and an electric or hybrid model is a good fit for the kind of usage that you do, then don’t be put off by the high price tag. In fact, one in three drivers are unaware that they could be saving money on an eco-friendly car, with government grants of up to £4,500 available. The government have promised to help more drivers make the switch to electric as the country prepares for all-electric roads by 2040, and you could be eligible for cash to put towards your new car depending on its emissions, mileage and battery warranty.  

3. Research Insurance Costs

Any driver knows that often the biggest cost in purchasing a new car is the insurance costs, and very cheap car insurance is rarer than ever. If you have still got an active policy with your current vehicle, then it’s worth calling them up beforehand to check any potential increases in price you will be required to pay if you get a new vehicle. And if you’re taking out a new policy, don’t be loyal to the same provider – you can save a significant amount of money by shopping around.

The best way to do this is by using a comparison site such as Quotezone.co.uk to find very cheap car insurance for the family car models that you are interested in. Visiting this site before you buy gives you the chance to compare the cost of insurance for different models, providing you with information you can use to make an informed choice.  

4. Consider Leasing

Finally, if you tend to change your family car a lot, then leasing could be a more ideal option for you. With leasing you do not need to purchase the car outright, but rather it is provided to you on a hire agreement. When this comes to an end, you will then have the option to purchase the car or trade it in for a newer model or a different make and model of vehicle altogether. 

5. Bonus Tip – Buy From An Established Brand

This tip won’t necessarily save you money on the purchase of your new car. That’s why it’s a bonus tip. It can, however, save you a whole lot of money over the lifetime of your car. It can also save you a whole lot of money if you later decide to sell or trade-in your new car.

There are three main reasons for this. Firstly, established brands, by definition, are known quantities. You know (or can easily find out), which brands produce fun, sporty vehicles and which ones produce reliable workhorses. For the major brands, you can even narrow this down to specific ranges, e.g. the Vauxhall Mokka range.

Secondly, if you buy from an established brand, there’s likely to be plenty of options for sourcing any spare parts you need. That means you can shop around for the lowest prices. As a bonus, it also means that maintenance and repairs can generally be turned around pretty quickly.

Thirdly, established brands tend to offer the best resale/trade-in values. This goes back to the previous two reasons. If you’re buying a used car, you want to know what you’re getting and you want to know that you can maintain it. Many buyers will cheerfully pay a premium for a used car from an established brand because it gives them peace of mind.

Which family car options are you looking at right now?