Shaun Williamson on haggling and saving

A car is an integral purchase for so many people – not only do millions of us rely on our motors to get around, but buying and owning a car is considered as a mark of adulthood, and a right of passage by many. In fact, 39% of people in the UK say their car gives them a sense of freedom, and 30% say they depend on their cars to see loved ones, according to new research from Raisin UK.

Whether it was a beaten-up banger or a brand new runaround, we all remember what our first car was. Ford is the most popular (18%) manufacturer of choice for a first car, and of those surveyed, 24-years-old was the average age people bought their first one – which also, on average, takes one year to save up for. 11% of those who bought their first car did so on finance, and of those who contributed their own money towards it, the average put towards their first car was £2,974.

7.5 million of us are currently saving for a car, and of those with their sights set on some new wheels, a third (33%) just want to get from A to B and a quarter (25%) want to travel around the UK in their new car. Even though 37% of those saving are working to gather the full cost of their chosen car, 28% of people will be opting to use a loan or financial plan towards some or all of their purchase. In that case, how can you ensure you get the best possible price for the car you want?

Aston spoke to Shaun Williamson, former Eastenders actor and Kevin Mountford, personal finance expert and co-founder of Raisin UK to discuss the findings of this research, his first car purchase, and what he has learnt about saving up and haggling down prices.

Photo by Olav Tvedt on Unsplash