How to save for a car

These days, there’s little doubt that owning and maintaining a vehicle is costly, despite how commonplace they have become. There’s servicing and inspection to pay for, registration costs, petrol and even the parking space to think about – the figures really start to add up. This is probably why it can be easy to fall for a used car scam – sellers are selling vehicles at appealing rock bottom prices that we simply want to believe are true.

It’ll be best to save up your pennies for a good quality and safe car than buy a cheap and dodgy lemon that you’ll end up paying more for in the long term. If you’re not ready to or can’t afford to own a vehicle right now, you can survive without a car for awhile, here are some ideas.

1. Walk - according to a National Health Survey conducted in 2004-2005, about 54% of Australians were classified as overweight or obese. Our digital lifestyles and daily driving habits, means that many of us don’t move as much as we could. The 10 minute walk to the shops is much healthier for us than the 2 minute drive.
2. Cycle - push bikes can make a good alternative to owning a car when it comes to commuting to and from work. Many capital cities have a network of bike paths that make it easy to get around. And again, cycling keeps us in better shape.
3. Car pool - if you live in an area where public transport isn’t always convenient, set up a car pool to get to and from major destinations. Car pooling is a great way to get others to chip in for some of your vehicle operating expenses such as petrol or even insurance. Remember, car pooling isn’t just for work – why not share your grocery trips or shopping excursions as well?
4. Car share - friends will often chip in for a boat – why not do the same for a vehicle? If you’re not a frequent car user, sharing can be a great way to lessen the costs of owning and operating a vehicle. Meanwhile, car share operators in major capital cities offer a vehicle rental scheme that’s a great alternative to owning your own car.

Once you’ve saved some money

By saving money to buy a better quality used vehicle, car buyers can save themselves the headache, heartache – and cash – that can happen with vehicle fraud. Remember, purchasing a vehicle is a substantial investment, it’s better to do it right than come to regret the decision in the long run.

Before you hand over your hard earned cash, remember to:

1. Ask the seller to show you a pink slip to verify that the vehicle is road worthy
2. Make a note of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the car. This number will help you obtain a vehicle history check to verify the seller is telling you the truth about the history of the car.
3. Get a REVs certificate to ensure the car is free of any outstanding debt.
4. Get a professional mechanic to inspect the car on-site before you finalise the purchase.