Valuable tips for your upcoming car purchase

MANILA, Philippines — Purchasing a car, whether it is your first-time or not, is always a new experience. Excitement never leaves while preparing and selecting, followed by delight and fulfillment when finally driving home that dream car of yours.

But like any other major purchase, you need to do your homework. Learn as much as you can about cars—and the process that goes into buying it—to ensure that you're getting the best deal possible.

Before you get lost in your car reverie, here are some valuable tips to consider when purchasing your new ride.

Prepare a shortlist of choices

When choosing the type of vehicle that's right for you, your options are aplenty. Having a wish list—what you need and want out of a vehicle—and more importantly, a realistic budget, will help you narrow down your choices. 

You can find almost all the information you need online (car model, specs, average price and even reviews) that will enable you to make a detailed comparison. Determine what features are really important—safety, fuel efficiency, etc., and those that you can do away with.

Also consult your friends and family for their valuable “car wisdom” and ask them to help you out in your search.

Once you have a shortlist, visit the car dealership and check out the vehicles you're considering up close and personal, or better yet, request for a test-drive. This way you can get a real feel of the vehicle in motion and assess its drivability and comfort.

When it comes to cost, always negotiate for the lowest price possible and ask for other inclusions—free tint, mats, seat covers and more!

Look into financing options

Being able to haggle for a must-buy vehicle package cost is just half the battle. You will also need a good auto loan package to make the deal even sweeter.

Instead of paying for the hefty purchase price outright, applying for a loan package is your best bet. 

Yes, you have a new a ride but you wouldn't want to deplete your entire savings (or a hefty portion of it) solely for the purpose of buying a car.  It's only practical to keep your savings intact in case of emergencies or to enable you to make other investments.

Much like choosing the right car, you also need to research and familiarize yourself with the process of getting an auto loan. Assess the interest rate, loan terms and other fees offered by your trusted financial institution. You may access their loan calculator online to determine the loan amount and terms that will best suit your budget and lifestyle. It will be extremely helpful if you can personally get in touch with a loan account officer to answer your queries and assist you with the loan application process.

With all these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to an even more enjoyable and exciting car shopping experience.

BDO Auto Loan offers financing packages with low interest rates and flexible payment options based on your lifestyle and budget. You can drive home the car you want easy and hassle-free!

For more details, click here.