Best Car Dealerships

Based on 28,427 reviews
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Motor Scout

Motor Scout 🏆 2026

5.0 

Let Motor Scout take the haggle and hassle out of buying a new car. 100% free service!

Motor Scout

Motor Scout 🏆 2026

5.0 Summary
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Judy3 posts
 

Motor Scout or mainly Taylor Crawford found my new car within 2 days!And this beats driving from dealer to dealer for the best price! Can't … Read more

rate his work ethic higher! Plus he saved me thousands! Great doing business with Sydney City VW who threw in floor mats and a tank full of petrol amougst other items! So if your in the hunt for a new VW T Roc go to Sydney City VW at Botany! Thanks for everything Dan and Jasmine! I will hopefully meet you soon.!

John Hughes Car Sales

John Hughes Car Sales 🏆 2026

4.8 
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Bob the dogWA
  Verified

Great experience on our new/demo Toyota Altitude. Trade and delivery within a week thanks to Marshall Walkers kind and efficient assistance.

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Nick
 

Lochie has been an absolute pleasure to deal with from beginning to end. He’s extremely friendly, informative, and always quick to respond to any… Read more

questions I had. What really stood out was how considerate and transparent he was throughout the entire process — everything was clearly explained, and I always felt well-informed and confident in my decisions. He consistently went above and beyond to make sure the experience was smooth and stress-free, which made a big difference. At no point did Lochie come across as pushy, which made the whole experience feel comfortable and genuine. It’s rare to come across someone who is both highly professional and so easy to deal with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Lochie to all my friends and colleagues, and I’d absolutely look to work with him again for any future car purchases.

Suttons

Suttons

4.6 
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Susan2 posts
 

Disappointing experience with the handover process at Suttons Mitsubishi Arncliffe. The communication was fine until payment went through, but as… Read more

soon as they got the money, it felt like they couldn't wait to get me and my new Mitsubishi Outlander out of there. To make matters worse, the car wasn't even charged when I picked it up. There was no bow on the car, no bunch of flowers, and absolutely zero effort to make the delivery feel special. Buying a new car is a major purchase, but the post-sale customer service here was completely lacking."

Suttons
Suttons    

Hi Susan, thank you for taking the time to share your… Read more

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PetaQLD
  Verified

Fantastic service. Andrew Jacques understood what we needed & took all the stress out of sorting a new car & organising trade-ins. Haven't bought a… Read more

car in 18 yrs so his advice, guidance & support made it so easy & we have a fabulous car at an amazing price. Couldn't have done it without him & recommend him to everyone.

OzCar

OzCar

4.2 
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DavidNSW
 

High-pressure finance trap and serious mechanical safety issues, I bought a vehicle from OzCar Rutherford six months ago, and the experience has been… Read more

a financial and mechanical nightmare. The sales team used incredibly pushy tactics, forcing a high-repayment finance structure ($870/month) that they convince you to sign up for even if it stretches what you can afford. They even forced a waiver signing stating "it's not a toaster, you can't change your mind in 24 hours."Worse than the pushy sales tactics is the condition of the vehicle. It was sold with serious mechanical faults: an incorrect oil filter, and a stripped ball joint nut that ruined the threads, forcing me to replace the entire hub assembly. On top of that, the air conditioning has had constant issues. I have already had to replace the AC compressor, and it is now failing again with loud noises coming from the left vents.Highly advise avoiding this dealership. They lock you into unaffordable contracts and hand over cars with severe, uninspected mechanical faults.

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Andrew
 

This was our 4th vehicle purchase from Westside and this time I brought my son along to also purchase a car and my daughter soon to follow, with team… Read more

members Gurpreet and Adrian making the buying experience 10/10 and also the rest of the staff we were meeting it’s just another great reason why we keep going back to Westside auto

Carma

Carma

4.7 
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LSalter
 

Carma Team, thank you! I have never had such a positive and seamless car buying experience! From my initial enquiry to car delivery I could not have… Read more

asked for a more professional service from every person at Carma. A big thank you to Anik who was so professional and lovely to deal with, answered all my questions and kept in contact through out the process. I am so proud of Carma for creating such an outstanding business model and service. Particularly as a female, dealing with car dealers can be quite stressful, there was none of this stress at anytime during my Carma buying experience. I am so so happy with my car (2015 Mazda CX3), it was as described and in excellent condition. Thank you again Carma!

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Richard EQLD2 posts
 

I ordered a Kia shortage from OnlineAutos,( Seamus Hilton ). It was a very positive interaction after my first inquiry in mid June, it was decided to… Read more

wait until near the end of the month to try and get a better deal, which we did. I received a very good deal, a deal I probably couldn’t have gotten by my self. My very happy with process of using OnlineAutos, and with working with Seamus.My experience was 5 STAR EXCELLENT. I would use them again in the future.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bose
  Fair Incentive

very satisfied with the customer service-bobby✅ Excellent service from bobby and the company Thank you so much

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Gordon H.QLD
 

I purchased a vehicle about a month ago and has been available through Carconnect, dealer has not been paid and I have been delayed delivery of my… Read more

new vehicle on numerous occasions now company has gone into voluntary administration. Took full payment fully knowing they could not delivery a vehicle to me, CEO and Directors should be charged with outright theft.

Carbarn

Carbarn

5.0 
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Marc T.
  Verified

Overall buying experience was good and the whole process was transparent. I purchased entirely online so arranged a third party inspection and got the car delivered in Brisbane very fast. Recommended.

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Jase E.4 posts
 

5 Stars – Highly Recommended! Zac and the team were absolutely fantastic to deal with. I test drove a car and instantly fell in love with it. I put… Read more

down a deposit, but unfortunately ran into some issues with finalising my finance. Even though I was past the 3-day cooling-off period, Zac and his team refunded my deposit in full—no hassle, no pressure. That level of honesty and integrity is rare to find. Although I didn’t go through with the purchase in the end, the entire experience was smooth, respectful, and professional from start to finish. The staff were a genuine pleasure to deal with.

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Kelly7 posts
 

Anyone who thinks money can't buy happiness has never bought a perfect used BMW from Wayne at Scarboro Toyota.

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Vlad Konts4 posts
 

Very poor communication They keep your car in service/repair for the whole day regardless if the job would take one hour. I would rate them minus 5… Read more

if I could. They give you a notice right before close of business to come pick up the car. Do not recommend at all.

Tynan Motors
Tynan Motors    

Thank you for your feedback back. Re your service… Read more

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NitinNSW2 posts
 

I recently had my car serviced at Westpoint Auto Beaudesert and was extremely disappointed with the overall experience. If you're waiting for your… Read more

vehicle to be serviced, there are very limited seating options available. There was no complimentary tea or coffee service, and no Wi-Fi provided for customers. When I asked about Wi-Fi access, I was told to go across the road to McDonald's if I needed internet access, which I found unacceptable for a dealership service centre.

What frustrated me most was the communication regarding my vehicle. I was told by the staff member at the front desk that my car had been washed as part of the service. However, when I collected it, the vehicle was still visibly dirty. When I raised this concern, I was told that the car had been washed but became dirty again during a test drive. Based on the condition of the vehicle, I found this explanation difficult to accept and left feeling misled.

The combination of poor customer facilities and an unsatisfactory customer service experience has left me very disappointed. Unfortunately, I will not be returning for future servicing and cannot recommend this service centre based on my experience.

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Warwick PrestwoodSA2 posts
  Verified

These guys were a pleasure, and provide aa hassle free experience Anyone wanting a car should visit as they take all apprehensions out of buying a car Brodie, Lydia and Jean— all great !

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Tony V.WA
 

I was contacted by Daniel from KS Motor Company offering to sell my vehicle, as I had it advertised privately but had no success. It was a unique car… Read more

so hard to sell. Daniel was great to deal with made it allot easer. I had my money in the bank. I had a positive experience & would recommend this Dealership. Friendly and communicative staff.

hussain e.
  Fair Incentive

Myk you are awesome Good luck mate Was friendly service and very helpful people around Love it ….

AaronCWA2 posts
 

Force you to use their finance. Rip off prices – Not sure where all their 5 star reviews come from as I doubt their validity. As someone else mentioned, they won't sell you a car if you're not using… Read more

their finance.

TLDR: will force you to use their finance. Rip off prices. Selling used cars for more than a brand new car (time to end the Covid tax)

Sent them an enquiry stating I was interested in a car through a lease arrangement. Never heard back from them. Called them up a few days later and asked for the first registration date of that vehicle as it would have qualified for an FBT exemption if registered after July 2022. Was told it was registered in June (how convenient) so I'd lose the FBT benefit of going through a lease and possibly opt for their finance.

Fact is that particular vehicle model was only released in Australia late August 2022 (maybe do your research if you're gonna bullsh*t). Unless you're telling me that this vehicle's a grey import?

Also selling the used vehicle for more than a new one would cost. Current wait times for this particular vehicle is 1 - 2.5 months (so not excessive).

Definitely do your research before approaching these lot as they'll scalp you if they can.

Disappointing because after all those positive reviews, I was hoping they'd be different and honest.

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Wan L.
 

We bought a 2021 Toyota Alphard Hybrid from Best People Movers and had a fantastic experience with Natalia. She was extremely honest and transparent… Read more

about the car, with all documents and paperwork well prepared. Nothing was hidden and everything was clearly explained.

What really stood out was how supportive she was during the inspection and loan process. As first-time buyers of a Japanese import, there were many things we didn’t know, but Natalia guided us through everything and made the whole process smooth.

It’s rare to find a dealer who runs their business with this level of honesty and care. If you’re looking for a Japanese import, I would definitely recommend talking to Natalia.

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AngyNSW
 

Over the last couple of years we have bought our cars through Arnie at Sydney Prestige. We always get the best outcome with the cars we purchase, … Read more

exceptional service, and recommendations. We just purchased another Mercedes, thank you Arnie for giving us another great purchase!

Ram RachakondaVIC3 posts
 

I've booked an appointment for 09:50 AM on 22nd December. When I arrived, there is no place to park the car which led me to park it half a kilometer… Read more

from the service station. The call to the service center, to inform about the delay took more than 10 minutes and was still on wait. When I arrived at 10:00 and waited my turn for around 5 minutes to be assisted, I was told that all bookings for that day were full as I was 15 mins late.

The next available appointment was only at the end of Jan. That is some next level stupidity.

If they work based on appointments, how did they accept additional customers in that 15 minutes?

This is the most unprofessional service center I've ever been to.

They arrogance is probably due to them being the only jeep authorized service center in the area.

NJ AngelNSW
 

This business goes above and beyond. Adrien (my sales man) is a champion even though I was a complete pain in the neck. Great prices and they do… Read more

everything to help U out. They pick U up from the train station if U have no way to drive there. Highly recommend.

Peter T.NSW2 posts
 

A great all round experience! – I was in the market for a second hand car and came across the Carizma website in my search. I had my mind on a couple of vehicles that I saw on the… Read more

site. I took my relative along as she too was looking for a vehicle. We had stopped at two car yards before going there. We were amazed by the help we received at Carizma. Alex and Hyula were fantastic. We both found vehicles we liked. She needed finance but ours was a straight forward sale. They helped us from start to finish. No pressure from them. Just good vehicles to choose from.

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Kim E.WA
 

Absolutely fantastic experience buying the MG HS Super Hybrid Excite from John. Top trade in price was given.After we were given a thorough explanation of it’s working by a very patient and competent Monique.A pleasure doing business.Kim E.

Chris H.QLD32 posts
 

I was looking for a car for the kids a few weeks ago and starting about 12k and looking at a few private sales realised the budget was too low so… Read more

upped it to 15k while out with my daughter we stopped into a couple of car lots while still looking a private sale but nothing in our price and more about getting in a car the right size. but the team at village motors kippa ring offered us a car for 16k by dropping the price by nearly 3k, she is so happy with the Haval h6 with 70 000 kms and still has 18 months left on the factory warranty with extended warranty (as long as its service is done there) even done the big bow photo shoot for Youse young people that have to put your whole life on line

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TonyM5 posts
 

Like Timothy M, but only for a 10m cable. We bought a 2026 Solterra on 10 June and it came with a 240v AC charger, which we have been using though it… Read more

takes more than 24 hours to get the car up from 20% to 80%. Knowing this, I ordered and paid for a 10m EV charging cable that can connect to our solar 3 phase outlet and charge the new car more quickly and from the 11kW solar panels with the 9.6kW BYD battery - should be great! However, the cable from EVS was ordered and paid for 9 days ago and EVS have not told me when I am going to receive it. They have not answered several attempted emails and 'phone calls, except 1 with a fellow in his car who I asked to keep me informed as to when. He reckoned their shipment has spent 3 weeks in Customs but should be in soon. If their ordering online had said "No Stock" I would have tried with someone else - even Bunnings would have been better and quicker. EVS should seriously have a very good look at their Customer Service; if they rated themselves now it would be 0 out of 10 and if they want to make the most out of the booming EV sales in Australia they had better improve, or they will be left behind by anyone who does value customer service.

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Col D.
 

Picked up the brand new GWM Tank 500 from Pacific Hyundai. Firstly. Wow, what a car is the Tank. Fabulous. My dealings with were David and I couldn't… Read more

have asked for better service from him. Very professional in his approach and knowledge of the vehicle. My 4th GWM from Pacific Hyundai. Nothing better than getting a great car and getting looked after from a knowledgeable salesperson at a really great dealership.

SolomonNSW
 

Not advisable – Dubious behavior , they are not paying your profit. I wanted to withdraw my full amount and their team said "You can just withdraw your initial… Read more

deposit"…. and then i tried to withdraw my initial deposit and it was still the same story. Do not work with this low-profile company... i̳ r̳e̳p̳o̳r̳t̳e̳d̳ m̳y̳ c̳a̳s̳e̳ t̳o̳ GAard.iO a̳n̳d̳ g̳o̳t̳ a̳l̳l̳ m̳y̳ m̳o̳n̳e̳y̳ b̳a̳c̳k̳ f̳r̳o̳m̳ t̳h̳i̳s̳ s̳c̳a̳m̳m̳e̳r̳ o̳f̳ a̳ b̳r̳o̳k̳e̳r̳ S̳T̳A̳Y̳ A̳W̳A̳Y̳!̳!̳

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Motor Scout

Motor Scout 🏆 2026

5.0 

Let Motor Scout take the haggle and hassle out of buying a new car. 100% free service!

A car salesman showing a couple a car at a car dealership.

What is a car dealership?

A licensed car dealership is a business that buys, sells, and/or exchanges motor vehicles as a retailer or wholesaler.

Dealerships are typically privately owned franchises, or they operate based on a licensing agreement with car manufacturers.

Many dealerships are mainly made up of a larger new car lot, and a smaller used car section. Others are dedicated solely to selling second-hand cars.

A much smaller percentage are online car dealerships. These let you browse various car makes and models, provide information on pricing and a location to view the car in person.

How do car dealerships make money?

Dealers make around an average of 5% profit on new car sales. In the case of new cars, the manufacturer is more likely than the dealer to make the lion’s share of profits.

For used cars sales, the profit margin for dealers is higher, at around 15%. In this case, dealers usually buy the cars cheap and sell them for a higher price. The dealer may buy the cars cheaply through customer trade-ins, or from a wholesaler that only sells cars to licensed dealers.

A dealership often makes most of its money on: old cars that get traded in, dealer’s finance, car parts and servicing or service packages. All the added extras that you get offered at the end of a sale can add to the dealer’s profit.

Is it better to get a car from a dealership?

Let's take a quick look at how a buying a car at a dealership compares to two other popular purchasing methods - buying a car through a private seller, or getting a car at auction.

CriteriaCar dealershipPrivate saleAuction
Price‘Drive-away’ price is more expensiveCheaper - but plenty of added costs post-purchaseCan snag a bargain - but less flexibility to back out
Price negotiatingCan negotiate priceCan negotiate priceFixed price once agreed to
Mechanic inspection allowedAllowed before purchasing used carsCan request pre-purchase inspectionIndependent inspection before sale is uncommon
Test driveTest drive is standardTest drive subject to seller agreeing to itCan’t test drive car
Trade-in for old carCan usually trade-in old vehicleMust sell old car independentlyMust sell old car independently
Cooling-off period1-day cooling off periodNo cooling-off periodNo cooling-off period
Title guaranteeClear title guaranteeNo clear title guarantee (need to do a PPSR search yourself)Clear title guarantee
Guarantees and warrantiesDealership guarantees apply for most cars soldNo guarantees or warranty, car sold 'as is'No guarantees or warranty, car sold ‘as is’
Australian Consumer Law guaranteesACL guarantees applyState-based consumer protection laws applyState-based consumer protection laws apply

Car dealerships

Dealer guarantees - The main difference

Any licensed car dealership is required by law to provide a dealer guarantee (previously called a statutory guarantee). These are provided in addition to a new car manufacturer’s warranty and in addition to the Australian Consumer Law or ACL guarantees.

Dealer guarantees make a car dealership responsible for fixing any major defects on a car that weren’t revealed in the course of a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic. This requires the dealer to get the car back into a reasonable condition. This can involve making repairs or remediating - ‘diagnosing’ the problem in order to fix it.

Always check how long the dealer guarantee lasts for - known as the limitation period. The limitation period could be a time period or the distance driven. Once this is elapsed or reached, the guarantee no longer applies - but you can look to the manufacturer's warranty or ACL guarantees for help fixing the problem.

Used car dealer guarantees

If you’re buying second-hand, dealer guarantees also include a requirement to guarantee the second-hand car has the following:

  • No hidden debts: Guarantee that there's no money owing on the car by a third party.
  • Any pre-existing damage must be disclosed such as flood or hail damage, or major modifications.
  • Clear title guarantee: This means the car comes with full title in your name, and ownership.

Used cars sold 'as is'

Note that some used cars at a dealership are advertised and sold ‘as is.’ These cars are sold unregistered and without any warranties or guarantees. These cars may be cheaper but they are riskier to buy. However, you can hire a certified mechanic to inspect the vehicle before purchasing, to ideally identify what needs to be fixed. If repairs won’t be too expensive, you may score a bargain - if you're okay with purchasing without a warranty or guarantees.

Private sales

Private sale guarantees

If you buy a car privately, the seller is under no legal obligation to guarantee that they’ll fix the car if there are any defects that present themselves after purchase. The seller is also not required to provide a warranty.

This means you’re on your own if the car has latent defects, or is the subject of a barely-disguised bad repair job. What's riskier is that you won't be covered by Australian Consumer Law in the event that something does go wrong. ACL only applies to businesses, and private sellers are usually individuals.

Private sale prices

While buying a car privately initially seems cheaper than buying at a dealership, it's likely to end up being more expensive than buying from a dealer.

When buying privately, you’ll need to tack on costs like a transfer fee, and stamp duty - calculated as a percentage of the car’s market value, not the sale price.

In comparison, dealers usually quote you a ‘drive-away’ price that includes everything in one figure. This includes dealer fees, stamp duty and registration. It’s worth shopping at multiple dealerships to compare the drive-away prices, as they can be quite competitive to get your sale.

Buying direct from the manufacturer

This is another way to buy a new car, however it’s more common for high-end car brands such as Tesla or Genesis. There are a few more everyday brands that are starting to offer this too, such as Honda.

However, a major drawback is that you can’t haggle on price when buying direct from the manufacturer. Also expect to wait some time before getting your car, as it’s rare to find available on-the-floor models.

For luxury cars, showrooms and experience centres let you browse cars and enjoy the experience without the pressure of a salesperson hovering over your shoulder.

Auction

Most cars sold at auction are sold ‘as is’ - without a warranty or guarantees, and are unregistered. This is the same situation as a car bought through a private sale.

Top 10 tips for buying a car at a dealership

1. Do your research first

You’ll definitely feel more confident walking into a car dealership if you know what you’re looking for. This helps you stay firm about your priorities and reduces the likelihood of becoming swayed by emotion when you’re charmed by cars that aren't in your wheelhouse - practically or financially.

This includes choosing the specific car you wish to buy beforehand. You can check the following so you know buying that particular car is the right decision for you: manufacturer websites, online car dealerships, car pricing sites like Red Book, expert reviews, buyer’s guides, reliability surveys and ANCAP safety ratings.

In terms of ongoing future costs, it will also be useful to check the following: fuel efficiency, car insurance costs, and resale value (this is based on the build plate date - the year the car was manufactured in). Also check that the model has a manufacturer-backed warranty.

Getting a fair trade-in price

If you're planning to sell your old car, most dealers will accept a trade-in.

Do some research on your car value and how much you’re likely to fetch for it through a private sale. This way you’ll be able to easily compare this figure with a dealer’s offer for a trade-in. The price you’ll get depends on a few factors, such as the popularity of the model and the condition the car is in. Keeping receipts from car servicing can help you get a better price.

When determining the trade-in viability at a dealer, ask for the changeover price. This is the total amount you’ll pay for your new car, minus the amount the dealer gives you for trading in your old car.

2. Organise your finances

Having your finances sorted out before you agree to buy a car helps you know whether you’re getting a good deal or not.

Dealer finance is often offered, and dealers make money on securing a successful loan arrangement. You can’t trust promises from a car salesperson that ‘this is the best interest rate you’ll get’, because it’s just not objective financial advice.

Again, do your research beforehand on how to find the best car loan. Compare interest rates from banks, loan companies and credit unions to see what the most competitive rates are. This will let you apply sound judgement when a dealer offers the ‘best interest rate’ - you’ll know whether it actually is or not.

3. Get a Pre-purchase inspection

This is especially important if you’re looking for second hand cars for sale. It’s not as crucial to inspect new cars as they’re covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

However, for used cars a full mechanic check is required to make sure the car is roadworthy. Used car dealerships will often do reconditioning on a car - making cosmetic enhancements to the car body so it looks shiny and inviting. You want to make sure there are no nasty surprises under the bonnet.

An inspection reveals any obvious defects, like damage from a car accident, hail damage, a bad repair job, etc. This is part of your due diligence as a buyer. Being aware of any problems from the outset can avoid the financial burden of costly repairs later.

It can also strengthen your bargaining position - if you’re aware of any issues needing fixing, but still decide to buy the car, you can use this knowledge to negotiate a lower sale price with the dealer.

4. Go for a test drive

Used cars

The test drive is especially important if you’re buying a second hand car. Hand in hand with a pre-purchase inspection, a test drive is one of the steps to take to make sure you’re not buying a lemon.

While it won’t alert you to all a car’s problems, it’s a good way to check the car isn’t plagued by obvious problems such as the car giving off smoke or having a rattling engine.

New Cars

For new cars, the test drive is about making sure the car feels right for you. It should feel comfortable to drive. Also keep a mental note of what you need in a car, and check that a prospective car ticks those boxes. For example, you might need enough storage space in the boot for soccer gear, or a built-in GPS that’s easy to use.

5. Be wary of optional extras

Dealers don’t make too much profit from the actual car sale, but they do pocket more cash on the extras.

Commonly, these can include fabric proofing, floor mats, as well as rust and paint protection. As a rule of thumb, if you don’t understand what’s being offered or haven’t heard of it before, don’t accept.

Some ‘extras’ like paint and rust protection, as well as capped servicing packages, are already included in the warranty, so if you opt for these without doing research first, you’d be handing over more money for no reason.

6. Carefully consider whether you need an extended warranty

There are two types of car warranties - manufacturer warranties and extended warranties.

Manufacturer warranty

Almost all new cars will come with a manufacturer warranty, also called a factory warranty. These typically cover repairs for mechanical failures due to design defects or faulty car parts. They usually last 3 years or 80,000 km as a minimum (whichever comes first), however the exact warranty details depend on the specific car and manufacturer in question.

Dealer/Extended warranty

You can also choose to buy an extended warranty, which is provided by the dealer. This kicks into gear after the manufacturer's warranty expires. For example, if you buy a Fiat 500 with a 3-year standard warranty, and then a 3-year extended warranty on top, you’ll be protected for 6 years.

Extended warranties are usually bought to give the buyer extra peace of mind. You might never have to make a claim for the entire warranty period.

It may be useful to keep the following factors in mind when making your decision:

  • Dealerships usually get a big chunk of commission from selling an extended warranty: sometimes up to 50% of what you pay.
  • Coverage in an extended warranty won’t neccessarily match what’s covered in the manufacturer’s warranty. Extended warranties are rarely manufacturer-backed.
  • You’ll still have protection under the Australian Consumer Law guarantees, even if you say no to the extended warranty. ACL guarantees ensure cars must be of an acceptable quality and provide remedies if they're not.

Used car warranties

If you buy a pre-owned vehicle at a dealership, you get a used car statutory warranty. This is provided the car has less than 160,000 km on its odometer, is less than 10 years old and doesn't exceed the luxury car tax threshold ($77,565).

This warranty is valid for 3 months or 5,000km from the day you purchase the car - whichever comes first. The statutory warranty covers major defects, but excludes ordinary wear and tear.

7. Only talk about price at the end

This gives you more bargaining power and allows you to negotiate the best price. One of the benefits of buying from a car dealership is that you can haggle on price - so don’t be afraid to do it.

8. Question the fees and charges

These fees or item lines may include dealer delivery fees, documentation fees, and processing fees. Always question these fees, especially if you're paying for dealer delivery fees on a car that was already on the lot of the dealership (for example, a demonstrator model or floor stock).

9. Don’t succumb to pressure

Don’t buy into common selling traps, such as a dealer saying a certain price is for a limited time only.

Play it cool and don’t worry that an attractive offer from a dealer will be taken back or ‘expire’ if you don’t say yes and sign the papers straight away. It’s okay to take your time and have a think. This may be an exception if the car is a limited edition - for example limited by how many models are being produced, not limited edition by name. However, in the vast majority of cases there’s no reason you need to shake hands on the spot.

Car salespeople know how to put the pressure on - but if you’re well-prepared for this beforehand, you can resist this, even when under the guise of charming customer service.

10. Shop around

A car is usually the second most valuable asset a person will own, apart from real estate. Making a financial commitment you’re confident you can keep is likely to save you from stress in the future.

Shopping around is usually the best way to do this. Get quotes from at least three dealerships, and make sure you’re comparing the drive-away price for all three - with all costs included. Don’t sign anything until you’re absolutely ready to, and make sure that any deposit you pay is fully refundable in case you change your mind.

The bottom line

If you're in the market for a new or used car (but new to you), visiting a car dealership to make the purchase has a number of potential plus points. To make sure you get the best possible deal, always make sure to take a few precautionary steps.

These steps include knowing the make and model of car you're interested in buying beforehand, organising your finances, and being flexible. You don't have to sign anything on the spot, and always be prepared to shop around to compare prices. This will all help avoid a headache when buying a new car, and help keep the fun in it.