TIPS FOR WHEN BUYING A NEW CAR

Shop around and take a test drive

Spending time doing your research online and visiting showrooms can pay off, as the choice of models and fuel types available from manufacturers, which each offer their own merits and driving experiences, has grown in recent years. Once you have a shortlist of cars that are suitable for your requirements and budget, take a test drive to get practical experience of what they will be like to use on a day-to-day basis.

Emissions influence payable road tax

A car's CO2 emissions determine the rate of vehicle excise duty (road tax) that you will need to pay during ownership of the vehicle, and this often rises every year. Electric vehicles are exempt until April 2025, but self-charging and plug-in hybrids are not, although these will be at the lower end of the scale in terms of tax due. There are plenty of online resources and the manufacturer's vehicle specification itself to check what band your preferred car will be subject to.

Virtual vehicle purchases are classed as "distance sales"

Buying a new car online from start to finish over the phone or the web without physically visiting retail premises a...