6 Things Every Malaysian Should Know Before Buying A Car

Purchasing a fresh new automobile is more than simply a…
By: Aqilah Najwa Jamaluddin
June 29, 2022

Purchasing new or second-hand vehicles may be a daunting process—particularly in Malaysia. Many salesmen will put you through a lot of pressure until you have no choice but to leave the showroom with a brand new car, so make sure you come in with full knowledge on the vehicles you’re interested in, your proper budget, and the worth of your commerce if you have one. 

Remember that owning a car is a long-term investment; it is the second widespread and long investment we make after dealing in a property investment. Purchasing a car involves a lot more than just ‘’regular’’ monthly billing. Other unintentional expenditures include annual road tax, insurance premiums, and maintenance fees. 

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For Malaysians, if you’re an ameatur who never had an experience purchasing a car before, there are a few things you should consider – first and foremost. Glitz helps to list down some of the key pointers below. 

1. Calculate Your Financing 

Before making your way downtown to any showroom, determine how much of an investment you can manage and how much of a monthly bill you can spend. Consider your monthly commitment. This includes not just the monthly payment but also the cost of petrol, tolls, and parking—all of which are necessary components of vehicle ownership. 

If you are getting your vehicles with a loan agreement, all of your loan obligations including what you could spend for auto payments, should not surpass 60% of your annual net monthly earnings. It’s also a good idea to conduct some investigation on potential vehicle loans to see what you are eligible for. 

Alternatively, you may use an app like CARSOME which lets you pick rates and conditions that meet your budget. You can also bargain your offers from creditors.

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2. Determine What Kind of Car You Need

Exactly what sort of vehicle are you looking for? Generate a proper checklist of your requirements. Once you’ve decided what kind of vehicles you want, you should consider what characteristics are most essential to you. Make a note of what you actually need in a car, such as safety, high gas mileage, and so on, and then narrow your search to vehicles that satisfy those requirements. 

The next step is to consider how you will use your automobile. Once you’ve decided on the automobile style that’s right for you, look into the various car brands and models. To get all the intimate facts, read automobile reviews on individual models and years.

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3. Learn More About The Car’s Model

Studying the car’s history may provide you with a trove of knowledge, such as the number of tests, previous owners, fatalities, and any recorded maintenance history. You may search for a specific car by its plate number and check its history using apps like My Car Info. It is also your right as a potential buyer to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before you buy it. Although you will have to invest for the automobile inspection, a reputable technician may identify possible problems that may just cost you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

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4. Search For A Good Dealership

It is also a good idea to explore different dealerships in addition to researching your potential vehicles. Read other customers’ reviews, comments and ratings and learn about their experiences. Request recommendations from your family and friends. They should be able to point you in the direction of a showroom or even a salesperson who gives exceptional customer service.

5. Compare Prices

Make sure you collect all the cost information in advance—and then do some comparison. Check the price of the vehicles that you desire at several dealerships and use web services to obtain invoice and deal pricing to find out the MSRP and invoice of a car, as well as a range of pricing you may anticipate to see at showrooms.  

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Simply Google the car value tool. You may look up and request a price for any brand, model, or even the year of manufacture. You may receive a flurry of phone calls, emails, and messages from dealers right away, but collecting data from many showrooms can give you some tips on rates. You should also seek for discount offers on dealer websites.

6. Test Drive The Car 

If you’re familiar with a certain make and model, you might choose to skip the test drive, but we encourage doing it anyway. It is important to verify the vehicle and take it for a test drive to ensure that everything works well and that there are no visible wobbles, rattling, or damages that might cause you problems after you bought it.

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