How to haggle for a used car & save money = More handbags!!

So you have checked out the vehicle, taken it for a test drive, checked out the log book and everything looks hunky dory. You want the car and are ready to buy, but you are unsure about the price. What do you do next?

You have your top price in mind (the most you are prepared to pay), you have a fair standard price you could offer and then you have a price that you want to offer but know you would be very lucky to get away with. You need to aim for cheeky, but not too cheeky- Always push for a little more but do not go wild! You need to be cautious with your approach to the seller as you want to appear confident but not arrogant and confrontational. You want the seller to be your friend, not an enemy as ultimately you want something that is theirs. Maintaining a relaxed and controlled manner is key.

By losing your cool or getting emotional, you run the risk of being turned away at the first hurdle. No seller wants to give someone a fair deal if you start to lose your head. A good way to start the haggle is to turn the tables and ask how much the seller expects to get from the sale. This gives the seller the opportunity to lay their cards on the table and you can retort... Any problems you may feel you have with the vehicle it would be a good time to raise these now, as it could bring down the price.
At the end of the day, this will have one of two outcomes- the seller will either accept this price or not. Try to stand your ground but think rationally- you both stand to win something. The drawback with buying from a Private seller means you do not get the added extras. These are usually the warranty, free servicing and general after sale service that many used car supermarkets will offer with the sale of a car.

A deal is usually (traditionally) secured with a handshake. As soon as you think you are on for a price with the seller offer your perfectly polished hand. You will discover that this will be hard to refuse.

This being a business deal it is wise to take it seriously but do not forget to enjoy the experience, as that is what it is- an experience!

Don’t forget that putting all of this into practise will mean that you will ultimately be able to afford that coveted Marc Jacobs bag that your boyfriend may never need know about!!