4 steps when buying a car as a woman

31st Mar 2022

The process of buying a car can be quite stressful for many people, especially If you’re a woman shopping for a car, you might face challenges that don’t always get enough attention.

Salespeople often try to make as much money and take advantage of women by assuming that, we don't know what's best, then there must not actually BE anything out on the market for us - which isn’t true at all!

Shopping is hard enough without having somebody treat you like an idiot throughout it all; with us this is far from what you’ll get from our sales agents. Zenith Motor Company strives to offer a service and equality that is unmatched in the industry. However, if you're going somewhere else it couldn't hurt for us to give these few tips on how we can make sure your experience here will be nothing short of perfect!

"43 per cent of women don’t trust the automotive industry and often describe their experiences very differently to men.”

Step 1: Figure out what you can afford

Before you start car shopping, you need to know how much you can spend. It’s generally recommended to stay under 10% to 15% of your take-home pay as far as monthly payments go.

That said, take your needs into account as well. Some people would rather spend less if it can still get them a reliable vehicle, while others may value comfort and modern technology enough to pay more for them. It’s also essential to consider your overall debt.

Take the time to research your options before going car shopping. If a significant part of your income goes into paying off debt, an expensive car loan can put a strain on your budget.

We recommend that you stay between 10%-15% of take-home pay for monthly payments, but if it’s not an issue and comfort is important too then go ahead with something more expensive so long as there's room in the budget!

It may also be wise to consider how much debt would affect future finances when making this decision; some people choose cheaper cars simply due their lower income status while others prefer luxury models even though they cost significantly more.

At the end of the day, it will always come down to affordability.

Lenders tend to look at your debt-to income ratio! If you're planning to take out a new Mercedes or BMW, if your debt-to-income ratio is over 40% then you may need to reconsider your options. Although, keep in mind that you may qualify for specific grants, donations or discounts depending on your situation.

Our Finance checker helps you with the numbers.

Tip: Whether you are paying in full or looking to get finance on your car, make sure you have crunched the numbers, know what you can afford, and don’t get persuaded into spending more money.

Step 2: Check your credit

We are sure we don't even have to remind you that credit scores can make the difference between approval and rejection for loans, mortgages or other financial products.

The higher your score is (the better), then it will be easier to get accepted into these programs with lower interest rates than if you had bad credit- because lenders know that they are able to rely on their repayment ability as well as show any signs of debt management issues in order maintain stability within both parties involved!

Each lender will use their own eligibility criteria, and some may place more weight on your credit score than others.

If you have bad credit, on the other hand, your finance options may be more limited. And If you’ve never taken out a credit card or a loan before, you may struggle to get accepted for car finance. This is because you’ll probably have what’s called a ‘thin credit history’ – which means lenders are unable to see how good you are at managing your debts

This doesn’t mean you won't be able to get a car out of finance, you’ll just need to work on improving your credit or explore lenders that accept applicants with bad credit.

Tip: The sooner you check your credit report, before thinking about buying a new car, even if it's months or years in advance the better. Identify items that are hurting your credit score then improve score by paying off past-due accounts, disputing credit report errors, and adding positive information to your credit report before a car dealership looks at it.

Step 3: Do your research

Now that the money talk is out of the way, lets get to the exciting part - choosing your new car!

Buying a car is a process, not an event, and it starts with research.

LEEANN SHATTUCK, OWNER AT THE CAR CHICK

LeeAnn Shattuck owns The Car Chick, a car buying service for women, and has been helping women buy cars for nearly 20 years.

“Do your homework,” she says. “Buying a car is a process, not an event, and it starts with research. Research cars online to narrow down the list to your top three choices. Educate yourself on the models, options and pricing before you ever go to a dealership.

The perfect vehicle should suit all of our needs and wants, but there are many different types out on today's market - If you don’t have a specific make and model in mind yet, consider your needs and wants.

Do you need a four-wheel-drive because you get outdoors a lot? Are you set on buying a hybrid? Do you want a compact car to easily navigate big city traffic? Or, maybe you’re looking for a reliable van for your kids and yourself.

Find a few options that fit your desired parameters.

Step 4: Find a salesperson you’re comfortable with

Before you hit the dealership, make sure they are also ready for you so call-in in advance to make an appointment.

Remember: You don’t have to work with a salesperson you’re not comfortable with. The minute you feel like you’re being patronized or not taken seriously, ask for a different salesperson.

Although nearly all buyers (90 per cent) really don’t care if they buy a car from a male or female sales executive, only 32 per cent ever had bought from a woman.

Sturgeon Christie, CEO at Second Skin Audio, suggests meeting with a female salesperson if it makes you feel more comfortable.

“You’ll want to call the dealership ahead of time anyway to schedule an appointment with them, and that’s a good time to ask if there’s a female salesperson you can work with,” she explains. “Each dealership typically has at least one or two women working in sales, so you can certainly ask to meet with a woman for your car buying appointment if that makes you feel more comfortable.”

So if this is something that you feel would make your experience that much more comfortable, at Zenith you can always speak to Krystol - she's always ready to safeguard women from being taken advantage of!

If you have any questions that have not been answered in the blog, please do not hesitate to contact one of our sales representatives, they’ll be happy to answer your questions & help you avoid getting the keys to your next nightmare ride!

Btw, Happy Mother’s Day from everyone at Zenith Motor Company