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Consumer Advice

    Consumer Advice

    Buying a new car is an exciting experience and a big decision. You want to be reassured that you have made the right choice and that the car suits your driving needs.
    The following are some points you should consider when making your decision.

    Do your research

    • Do your research and shop around for the best deal.
    • Find out as much as you can about the company you are purchasing the car from. Are they an established trader with a good reputation? Member of a trade association such as the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). Find an SIMI member.
    • Manufactures have a variety of new car offers available, so shop around for the best deal. Electric vehicles can avail of grants.
    • If purchasing a used car ask about the history of the car, (number of previous owners) many dealers will provide a car history check report.
    • The service history will show if the car has been well maintained.
    • If purchasing an electric car you may wish to install a charging point at home, not everyone’s house is suitable for a charging point – some terrace houses, apartment blocks etc so you should check if you have the ability to install a charging point in your home.

    Finance

    • Your lifestyle and budget should dictate what kind of car you buy and what the cost to change will be.
    • How much you have to spend on a car and what you want to spend to run it before you make any decisions.
    • Is it within your budget and how will you finance the purchase?
    • There are a number of financial products available to help you purchase your car such as hire purchase, personal loans or Personal Contract Plans (PCPs). It is important that you understand these offers. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission have information available on their website explaining in details the options available to the car purchaser. 
      The Central Bank is the Financial Services Regulatory Authority also offers advice to consumers with regards to car finance and insurance cover.

    Cost to Change

    • When you go to change your car, what is important to understand is the cost to change. This is the difference between the value of your trade in against the cost of the new/newer car you are going to purchase. The cost to change will depend on how much the retailer is prepared to offer you for your trade in and factors such as age, vehicle condition, mileage and service history are all taken into account. 
    • If you do not have a trade in and are a cash buyer, the customer is generally in a better position to negotiate on the vehicle price as they are not constricted by the trade in value.    

    Engine Type 

    • Make a list of the items that you feel are important in the car of your choice, be practical as to what your needs are. Consider what you will be using the car apart from travel for example you may need extra boot space if its a family car.
    • Depending on your travel requirements, the amount of mileage you will be doing. Will it be mainly urban or rural driving as this may determine your choice of car by fuel/EV type, fuel economy and engine/battery size. There are many different types of technologies available and you should choose the technology that is best suited for your driving needs.
    • Do have a checklist, of physical checks for both inside and outside of the car. 
    • ​​​​​​​If buying a used car look for wear and tear on the tyres, wheel arches, are all lights working properly, seat belts, seats easy to adjust, wipers working, check the oil, any signs of leaks etc.
    • If purchasing a second-hand/used car it is strongly advised that you get a mechanic, an auto engineer or a person with some mechanical background to inspect the car, as they will give their independent expert advice.

    Warranty

    • Determine the type of warranty that is available with the car and what the warranty covers.
    • Used car car warranties are determined by the consumer and dealer at the negotiation stage, the time of sale of the car, as for cars that are outside of manufacturer warranty the retailer will provide their own warranty cover on the car.
    • The manufacturer's battery warranty on a new EV, is generally 7/8 years with a set mileage and this warranty may continue with the used cars if it is within the manufacturer’s warranty timeframe. For a second hand EV many dealers will carry out battery health checks, which indicates its remaining capacity, and can offer their own warranty cover.

    Car Market

    • The Irish new car market has two big sales periods January and July as we have a dual registration plate.
    • Manufacturers will pre-advertise their new car offers, a few months in advance of the new registration plate. Retailers advertise their used car stock all year round and you will fine information on their websites .
    • Do your research, read the motoring journalist reviews and visit manufacture websites to learn about the latest models coming to the market.

    Tools

    The SEAI Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's website provides detailed information about the types of Electric Vehicles available, grant applications, electricity suppliers, charging infrastructure and much more. They have a number of useful tools to assist you.   

    Total cost of ownership calculator
    Browse and compare the full range of new electric, petrol and diesel vehicles in Ireland.  
    See how much you can save in costs and emissions. Visit here

    EV journey cost calculator 
    See how much you could save on your typical journeys by switching to an EV. 
    Calculate the cost of your trips in a range of cars. Visit here.