When you’re purchasing a new or used car, sometimes the seller will offer a few extras to make ownership of your new set of wheels a little bit easier.
This is not a new gesture that motor traders have recently come up with. In fact, extras as part of your new or used car purchase have been around for a number of years and now, there are more options than ever before.
Whether you’re buying a combustion-powered or electric vehicle, there is something that can brighten up the deal, especially if the purchase is a rather expensive one.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the extras you can receive when you sign on the dotted line for your next car.
Warranties
This mainly applies to used vehicle purchasing, as new cars all come with a manufacturer warranty when they are registered.
If you’re buying from a used car dealer, enquire as to what types of warranties they off. Used cars can be a lot less reliable than a brand new one, so make sure if the dealer throws in a warranty as part of the deal that it covers mechanical and electrical components. Some of these warranties are very limited, but lots of used garages will offer anything between a three to 12 month warranty for that little bit extra peace of mind.
Under the Consumer rights act 2015, any used car bought from a dealer must come with a warranty, but it’s up to the seller to decide how long the period of warranty wants to be. Remember too that there are plenty of third-party warranty providers that specialise in older cars, so this could also be an option.
Service plan
A service plan is a great way to save money and make sure that your car is looked after. When it comes to annual maintenance, it can be rather expensive for a full service and MOT, but a service plan will allow you to pay in monthly installments, so when the time comes to have any work done – you’ve paid for it throughout the year with no major lump sum.
As part of new car deals, a service plan can make ownership that little bit easier and less stressful and makes sure that your car is always looked after. Depending on the car you buy, the length of time your finance contract or how long you own the vehicle will all differ on how much the monthly repayments will cost.
Paint protection
Lots of car manufacturers, especially the ones selling premium and exotic vehicles will want to sell you paint protection. These can range from a variety of different options such as ceramic coatings or even paint protection films known as PPF.
A ceramic coating will be applied to your new vehicle’s paintwork which then acts as an extra coating to the car’s paintwork which makes it repellent against water, dirt, grime and any other elements that could damage the lacquer or clear coat. Most ceramic coatings come with a warranty and will vary depending on the company who supplies it. But the substance can last up to as long as 10 years.
Paint protection film on the other hand is a clear translucent film that goes over your car’s paintwork which essentially makes it scratch proof. It’s also designed to prevent your car from getting stone chips, protects from the uv radiation and any other minor abrasions that may occur. You can still wash your vehicle in the same manner if either PPF or ceramic coatings are applied, but it is advised if you have PPF fitted that a pressure washer should be used with care.
Home charger installation for EVs
If you’re new to electric cars, the most sensible thing to do is have a home charger installed. But, some car manufacturers will actually include both a home charger and its installation free of charge. Don’t get too carried away, as all home chargers will only be a 7kW AC slow charger. You can upgrade to a 11kW unit, but that will require upgrades to your home electricity, but it still makes living with an EV a lot cheaper and easier.
It gives you the added benefit of walking up to your car in the morning with a full charge and it can save you up to £1,000 on the cost of installation. If you are lucky enough to have the option of a free home charger when ordering a new EV, take it, as it could save you a lot of money.
Car accessories
Most cars come fully kitted out with standard equipment, but some new and used dealers will still throw in a few goodies to make your car a little bit better. These can range from floor mats, rear parking sensors or even exterior protection such as door rubber strips to stop your car from being damaged in a car park.
Gap insurance
Another popular add-on in the world of car buying is Gap insurance, which tends to be used when it comes to new car purchases.
Gap – or ‘Guaranteed Asset Protection’ – is a type of insurance which covers the difference between the value of a vehicle and the amount that is still left to pay on a lease or finance agreement in the event of the car being written off. Given that new cars lose a lot of their value within the first few months of ownership, this can be a helpful method of covering you against a future financial loss.