What Add-ons Should You Get With a Car Purchase?

When you buy a car from a dealership, you can expect that you’ll be offered a few extras here and there. Car dealerships don’t only sell cars. They also offer a wide selection of add-ons that they think car owners need. One of the most common extras that car dealerships offer is car insurance add-ons. But are add-ons from a dealership a good idea? Before you buy your car, you need to be ready and know when to say “no” to offers. Ask yourself what extras you should get with a new car. This will help you avoid unnecessary spending on top of your actual car purchase. 

What You Need to Know About Add-ons

The first thing to know about add-ons is that the salespeople at a car dealership get a commission whenever they convince a customer to purchase extras. But to be fair, the add-ons are not only being sold for additional earnings on the part of the dealership and salespeople, but they might be beneficial to you as well. Some of the best examples of these add-ons are service plans, GAP insurance, extended warranty, wheels and tyre cover, paint protection, fabric protection, and chip and dent protection. 

Do I need GAP insurance?

It’s worth considering getting GAP insurance because it can protect you from your car’s depreciation - which is especially important if you're buying and brand-new car.  Here’s how it works. If an accident happens and your car gets written off by the insurer, you might only get 70% of what you’ve paid for the car because its value has decreased the moment you drove it home. However, if you have GAP insurance, the policy will pay out the 30% remaining. It’s a good idea to have GAP insurance, but you have to take time to think about where to buy this cover. 

Some dealerships may have charged a ridiculous amount for it or tried to convince you that you can only buy from them. This is not true, and they can’t force you to purchase this add-on. Dealers are now not allowed to sell you GAP insurance (as directed by the Financial Conduct Agency) when you actually purchase the vehicle and now need to give you 48 hours to consider before they actually sell it to you.  If you want to have GAP insurance, try to shop around and look for the best offers and the lowest GAP insurance cost. Be sure that they are also regulated and legitimate GAP insurance providers.   

Do I need wheels and tyre cover?

This depends on the car you bought. If you have a 4x4 with big tyres, you might not really have a need for this cover. What’s great about having wheels and tyres insurance is if you’ve driven through a really bad pothole and need replacements, you can simply call the insurance provider, and they’ll take care of it. This add-on is not that expensive, so if you’re fine buying this extra, then you’ll have peace of mind knowing you won’t have to go through all the hassle if your wheels and tyres need to be repaired or replaced. But as with anything, please read the contract and be sure to know the terms and conditions of this cover before buying.  

Do I need paint protection? 

The short answer is no. What you can do instead is go to a good auto supplies shop and buy the best car shampoo and polish. You can even go online and buy it there and have it delivered to you. Next, learn how to wash your car and apply the products you bought properly. Do this regularly, and you will have a great-looking car without spending so needlessly on paint protection cover.  

Do I need chip and dent protection?

Any car owner would be infuriated to see a scratch on a brand-new car. A chip and dent protection is a nice add-on to have, but it also depends on your specific situation. For example, do you have a decent parking spot at home and at work? If that’s the case, you might not need this add-on. But if you think your car is more at risk of getting scratched, then chip and dent protection could help you worry less about the car getting damaged. 

Do I need fabric protection?

Honestly, mostly no. This add-on might be bundled up with the paint protection cover, but you don’t really need this one. Your car’s interior should remain clean and well-maintained as long as you take the time and effort to take care of your car inside and out. However, if you have pets who regularly come along with you in the car and can afford to take it out, it might be worth considering! 

Is an extended warranty worth it?

If you get the right extended warranty, then yes, it’s worth it. When you have an extended warranty, your car is still covered after the main warranty runs out. But you have to be very careful with this one. Take as much time as you need to read the terms and conditions of the cover, ask the salesperson all the questions you have, and try to haggle so you’ll get a better deal. Sometimes not everything you expect is covered, so please check what is covered. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and find a better deal elsewhere. 

Do I need to buy add-ons with my car purchase?

Since they are add-ons, no, you don’t need to buy them with your car purchase. They are simply products that car salespeople offer customers of the dealership. You are not obliged to buy these add-ons exclusively from the dealership where you bought your car. However, if you think you are being offered a good deal, then feel free to buy the add-ons. 

How to choose which add-ons to get with your car?

The add-ons you get depend on the car you’re buying. Read up as much as you can about the specific car you would like to buy, and try to learn about any weaknesses so you can prepare and buy the right add-ons. Some extras are really worth your money, while others are practically useless. Always be careful when deciding what cover to buy for your car. Read the fine print, and don’t hesitate to ask the salespeople at the dealership for any clarification. 

Finance Your Car with Carmoola

Ready to buy your car? You can get car finance with Carmoola in less than five minutes! All you have to do is download Carmoola and start the process. Simply follow the steps, enter the required details, and verify your identity with your driving licence. The result will be available almost instantly. 

If you want to learn more about how car finance works or read about other car finance tips, be sure to visit our blog. It's filled with lots of informative articles!