Car buyers face fear at the dealership

Eight in ten (80 per cent) of car buyers say they wouldn’t use an independent used car dealer to buy a car for fear of facing a Swiss Toni and leaving with a banger rather than a Bentley.

The study, conducted by AA Insurance, today reveals almost two thirds (59 per cent) of the British population say they find all car salesmen untrustworthy, with less than a tenth (9 per cent) seeking advice from a car dealership when thinking about buying a car.

Key concerns for car buyers stem from our lack of knowledge, with more than half (54 per cent) feeling they don’t know enough about cars to know what they should be looking for. This is leading to worries about overpaying (33 per cent) or not being able to choose an appropriate car (40 per cent).

Other findings include:

Less than half of all car owners in the UK found it very easy to buy a car (49 per cent)

More than a fifth (22 per cent) didn’t know what they needed to look for when buying a car

10 per cent were worried that they would buy a ‘clocked’ car and find that the mileometer has been ‘wound back’ to show a lower mileage

31 per cent were worried they would uncover faults with the car after they bought it

Expert Advice

A fifth (20 per cent) of the nation would prefer to seek advice on buying a car from expert websites and a further sixth (15 per cent) would use online forums and chat rooms to find out what to look for. Others prefer to get information closer to home, with almost a quarter (24 per cent) going to friends and family first to get advice.

Getting a Better Deal on Your Car

To help more Brits get a better deal when buying new and used cars, AA Insurance has teamed up with leading car expert Giles Chapman to produce a guide to ‘Getting a Better Deal on Your Car’. It covers everything from what to look out for at the forecourt, how to drive a hard bargain and take home those extras car salesmen always ‘forget’ to mention and is available to download from gettingabetterdeal.co.uk.

Janet Pell, head of AA Car Insurance, says: “Purchasing a car can be intimidating for many people, especially if they encounter up-selling and are not sure of what to look for or what questions to ask the dealer. Before you buy, it’s really important to do your homework and make sure you know what you want, what you’re willing to pay and key things to check for to ensure you feel confident on the forecourt or wherever you choose to look for your next vehicle.

“We’ve teamed up with car expert Giles Chapman and used the expertise of The AA Team, who are dedicated to getting a better deal for people on their insurance, to produce a guide that offers top tips on getting a better deal when you’re buying a car and to ensure you’ve got something worth insuring!”

To download AA Insurance’s Guide to Getting a Better Deal on Your Car, visit gettingabetterdeal.co.uk.