According to a recent survey, women are buying more cars than ever before. The survey on autoremarketing.com found that women car buyers are the fastest growing segment of car buyers – they account for over an estimated 50% of new-car purchases and influence 80% of them.
“Women are more confident, more educated and better prepared financially to make a car-buying decision than ever before – but there’s no getting around it – women are treated differently at car dealerships,” says 1st for Women Insurance’s Executive Head, Robyn Farrell, adding, “it’s very important that you’re prepared to ask the right questions when buying a car so that you are treated as a savvy buyer.”
Several car dealerships in South Africa including CMH Toyota in Melrose, Johannesburg and Auto Atlantic in Cape Town confirmed that this fact is true locally as well.
Farrell advises car shoppers to know everything they can about the car they are interested in buying including their true market value (book value). “Research online and talk to drivers of the car. This will enable you to ask intelligent questions. Negotiate the best deal for everything from the price of the car, the value of your trade-in, the package prices, the dealer documentation fees, and the interest rate on your financing,” she says.
