What to Expect When You Collect Your New Car

Buying a brand new car for the first time is without a doubt one of those 'bucket list’ moments. Not only does buying a new car bring immense satisfaction, it also ensures a clean bill of health for getting you and your family around safely.

So what is the process you go through when collecting your new car?

You’ve done your research and you’re ready to buy!

Deciding on what car you are going to buy can be the most time consuming part of the whole process.

By this point you’ve probably spent hours doing your homework; such as combing the internet for informative articles, reading countless reviews on fuel ratings and safety features, looking at what models and sizes best suit your needs, completed a few test drives around the block - and that’s all before you’ve even chosen what you colour you want!

Now, despite all this, you’ve found your perfect car, and you’re ready to get behind the wheel. Nice!

So what happens next? 

Once you’ve decided which vehicle you want and organised paying for it (either a lump sum amount or financing etc.) it might still take a few days before you’re driving off into the sunset. There is always a chance your local dealer may not have your exact model or colour in stock and it might take some time for your new car to arrive from the manufacturer or to be transported in from another dealership.

In order to avoid any disappointment or inconveniences ensure you double check the expected waiting period. Once your car arrives at the dealership, it will also take a few days to obtain its vehicle registration and warrant of fitness, have a pre-delivery inspection and be groomed inside and out. Plus fit any accessories you may have ordered. Despite all these logistical issues, car dealers usually have a pretty good idea of how long it all takes when it comes to getting you behind the wheel and should be able to give you an indication of how long it may take.

Picking up your new car

The day is here and you can finally go and pick up your new set of wheels - hooray!
Arrange a time with the dealership to pick up the car allowing at least 30 to 45 minutes for the handover. During this time, make sure you are happy that everything is in tip-top shape. Your brief inspection should include checking the model is the one you selected, any accessories you wanted are fitted, and making sure there aren’t any marks or scratches in the paint. The dealers most likely would have already done all this, but it doesn’t hurt to double check!

If you aren’t confident you can give your new car a thorough inspection, we recommend taking someone who does know a thing or two about cars when you go to pick it up.

The dealership will also familiarise you with the features of your new ride. It’s important that during this time you ask the dealer any questions you may have about the running of your new car - they’ll probably have a few helpful tips up their sleeve too.

During the handover the dealer will cover aspects such as: 

• A thorough overview of the vehicle by informing and showing you important features, such as checking the engine, showing you any hidden levers, explaining what type of petrol is best for your car, help you adjust your seat and mirrors, and even show you how to connect your phone to the Bluetooth/hands free system and demonstrating how to tune into your favourite radio stations.
  
  
• Ensuring the vehicle is road worthy by checking the Warrant of Fitness and car registration stickers on the windscreen are up to date
  
  
• Making sure you have all the necessary vehicle documents and ownership papers
  
• If you have financed your purchase, financing companies will often require evidence that your vehicle is covered under insurance before the car leaves the dealership. If you are not financing your new car, it is a good idea to get the insurance organised as soon as you can!
  
  
• A quick guide through the car owner’s manual, as well as the vehicle's service book. It’s really important you know when your car is due for a service - so make sure you pay attention! Alternatively a loose rule of thumb is to have your car serviced once every year, or at 10,000 kilometres if you clock up the kilometres quickly.
  
  
• Any extra benefits, like the conditions of the manufacturer’s warranty, roadside assist and service plans. Suzuki offers a complimentary 5 year warranty package that includes 5 years of roadside assistance with every new car. Ask the dealership about our discounted service plans and Suzuki Benefits programme too.
  

What to do once you have your new car

It’s time to hit the road and enjoy! It may take a while to adjust to the feel of your new car, especially when it comes to figuring out the dimensions when you’re parking and nipping around busy streets.

A few tips to making sure you’re all set include...

• Store you spare key in a safe place in case you lose or misplace your main key.
  
  
• Book your vehicle in for any upcoming services your car may have. Suzuki offers a free 1,000 km service check which is also a good time to ask any questions that you forgot to ask or have arisen since buying the car.
  
  
• Keep a list of any questions you have or pieces of information you have forgotten. Your salesperson will be happy to go over any of these things again.
  
  
• Check out our blog with all the information on the ‘must-haves’ we recommend you keep in your car here. Items such as a first aid kit, spare water and a phone charger are just a few of the essentials.
  
  
• If you don’t already have a regular place you go to put fuel in your car, we recommend you find one close by and sign up to their loyalty scheme. Often you can save money and get good deals. With a new Suzuki, the Suzuki Benefits programme will give you discounts on fuel through AA Smartfuel along with other discounts.

For more information check out our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car.