Dealer shares phrases motorists should never say when buying their next car

A top second-hand car dealer has warned motorists that they should never say three simple phrases when buying a vehicle. The expert warned that simply asking whether petrol, diesel or electric cars have a different price if buyers pay in cash was likely to backfire.

Meanwhile, queries around car insurance prices and delivery times should also be avoided when striking a deal. The advice was handed out by Joe Betty, director of the used car dealership Berrow Motors. Joe makes videos for his YouTube channel 'Shifting Metal' where he dished out advice to those considering shopping around for a different vehicle.

Speaking on his channel, Joe said: “Number one on my list is 'how much for cash?', customers asking how much discount they can get for paying with physical cash for a car. Cash is king, of course is a phrase we hear a lot, but let me tell you why cash isn't king.

"A: it's not 1980, B: I've got to pay to put that cash into the bank, C: I've got to sit there and count through and make sure that the cash is alright and real.

“And then someone has to go to the post office or bank and pay that cash in, stand in a queue. There are all those things to deal with, there's a massive time delay versus getting a bank transfer."

Next, Joe warned that querying how much car insurance would be on a vehicle is another major error.

Driver quotes are calculated on a variety of factors, including an individual's age, address, job and no claims history. It therefore becomes almost impossible for a dealer to work out how much a driver will pay for insurance off the top of their head.

Finally, Joe admitted dealers are left with "alarm bells ringing” if they hear the phrase “no rush” from a potential buyer. Many second-hand car dealers will promise delivery within seven days to ensure everything is up to scratch before passing over the model.

However, individuals who claim they are in ”no rush” warned these are usually the most impatient buyers and are often demanding news within hours of completing a sale.

Joe said: “If a customer is saying that to you, 99% of the time the customer will be on the phone to you after about three days to ask how it's going."