Unless you've got a mattress stuffed with £50 notes you're going to need some finance for your next car.
There are now loads of ways to get a nice pile of cash for a new motor, but which do you choose? And what are the options?
Our guide is here to help you tiptoe through the finance minefield to make the right choice for you.
It's separated into easy chunks - the main different types of loan and some useful tips at the end. Just use the navigation at the bottom of each page to flick between them.
As with any hire purchase agreement, you pay a deposit, then pay off the balance in monthly instalments over an agreed period of time.
Most dealers offer HP schemes, but interest rates vary, so check out the APR rate to tell you the real cost of borrowing.
The monthly payments may be higher than with some other finance methods, but the overall sum paid back is generally lower.
An HP loan is secured on the car, so you won't be turfed out of your house, and you own the car outright when you hand over the final payment.
As with hire purchase, you pay a deposit and monthly instalments.
The difference is the monthly payments are generally lower, which means you can afford a flasher car than you might have thought possible.
Popular with ex-company car drivers as many schemes include servicing and maintenance in the price.
However, there is a final payment called the minimum guaranteed future value (MGFV), also known as a balloon payment.
This is often a large sum, which means you either have to stump up to buy the car outright, walk away with nothing, or swap to another PCP scheme to keep you on the road.
Much like renting a car on holiday, you simply pay for what you use with a PCH.
The initial deposit is very small or non-existent, and you pay monthly instalments that usually include servicing and maintenance, and often cover depreciation.
These payments are generally less than with a PCP or HP.
Sounds ideal, but remember you'll never own the car and these schemes are not widely available. Also, private users cannot claim back the VAT.
There's a huge variety of lenders offering personal loans, so shop around for the best deals.
You choose how long you take to repay the loan and there are no restrictions on the type of car you buy and how many miles you cover.
You also own the car outright from day one.
But bear in mind you could loose your home if you don't keep up repayments and lenders are very choosy, so unless your finances are cleaner than a surgeon's fingernails you could be turned down.
By remortgaging your home, you could realise untapped equity in your property.
By spreading the repayments over the period of the mortgage, this method provides very low monthly costs, although you pay back more in the long term.
Buy a car this way and it's yours from the outset, but you will have to pay for its servicing and maintenance.
Once you've decided on the best way to raise the cash for a new car, follow these top tips to make sure you get the best deal:
