Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Buying & selling cars
 Features:Extra, Extra, Extra
Car dealers are falling over themselves to tempt us into parting with our cash. One way is by offering attractive ‘free’ extras, such as electric windows, sunroofs, leather seats and air conditioning. They also like to offer perks such as free insurance, 0% finance deals and sunshine holidays.
 Car Extras
Reliability counts
You may be swamped with all kinds of ‘extras’ offers, but bear in mind that reliability and excellent customer service are essential for your motoring peace of mind – and you can get that by following the Direct Line route. Buy your car insurance online with Direct Line and you will receive a 10% discount.
Checking out the offers
Free insurance
Free insurance is a good idea for many people - comprehensive cover is usually the wisest choice for a brand-new car, and without a special deal it can be very expensive, particularly for inexperienced or young drivers.
But do your own research into what the cover offers before taking up a free insurance offer, to make sure it is right for you: it may only give you the minimum of cover and might prevent the car from being driven by other members of your family.
Will you be able to afford to insure it next year when the freebie runs out? It’s always worth getting an independent quote – so why not try Direct Line?
Free holidays
A free holiday is very tempting - but if the dates and destinations don’t suit you, you’re probably better off asking for the same amount off the price of the car!
Cashback
The same goes for cashback - that cash is your money and you will be paying a lot for it if you buy through a finance deal.
Is the extra a real bargain?
Free extras to tempt you into buying a car can be useful and save you money, too – just remember that a bargain is only a bargain if you really wanted it in the first place. For example, an air-conditioning unit will need to be maintained, increasing your running costs.
Advantages for selling on
Some extras are worth having because when you come to change your car, a ‘fully loaded’ model will be easier to sell – although it might not necessarily bring in a better price.
Metallic paint makes a car look more attractive, but it’s more expensive and difficult to match in the event of a scrape. Some metallics, such as silver, are extremely popular. More unusual colours, such as yellow and lilac, will not attract very many buyers.
A leather interior is always worth going for because it looks and feels good and is practical – it's harder wearing and easier to clean than cloth, particularly if you have children and pets. Additions such as dog guards, tinted glass, mats and quality sound systems, particularly when they are of the type recommended or supplied by the manufacturer, can be expensive when purchased individually. If they’re being given away, always say ‘yes’.
Beware of too many extras
Adding extras not recommended by the manufacturer can affect the vehicle’s warranty, increase the cost of your car insurance, and some, such as under-chassis lighting can be illegal to use whilst driving. Flamboyant spoilers, customised paint effects, rally steering wheels, bucket seats and over-wide wheels, and white tyres, for example, can make your pride and joy totally unsaleable!
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