As a single young woman, I can safely say that buying my first car was quite a scary and daunting experience. Unfortunately even in the 21st century, women are treated completely differently to men when it comes to purchasing a car. Sadly, I did end up being cheated by the car dealers I chose to buy my car from and ended up out of pocket as a result.
What I have learnt from the experience, and from talking to other women who have been in similar situations, is that knowledge is key. Before entering the scary world of car dealer showrooms make sure you know all that you can about what to look for when buying a car. Have a plan in place before you get there so that you don’t end up being taken down a path that won’t benefit you in the long run.
The first thing to do is not to look vulnerable. Dress in a business-like fashion and hold yourself confidently. A woman who looks uncomfortable and unsure whilst wearing girly clothes is not going to be given the right kind of respect from the car dealer. Make sure you have a list of questions ready and when new ones arise, ask them straight away. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, remember that the ball is in your court and that you don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want to.
If you have found a car that you like ask to see the service history (if it is second hand) so that you can identify any potential issues. Make sure you double check that the mileage makes sense for the year of the car, and that the vehicle hasn’t been involved in any accidents. Cleverly repaired accident damage may be unnoticeable, but if you ever had an accident yourself these repairs would crumple a lot easier this time, putting your safety in jeopardy.
Ask the car dealer for a test drive and try to persuade him to let you try out a number of environments. After all, it is you that has to drive the car for the next few years, so don’t be pressured into signing any cheques too soon. Stay confident and you should be treated how you deserve.