Tips for buying a car in Qatar
As you transition to life in Qatar and consider vehicle ownership, you'll want to keep some key factors in mind - affordability, type of vehicle and age of vehicle. Whether you're considering buying new, secondhand or renting; we've reached out to expats in Qatar who have undergone the vehicle buying process for tips to help you make the right decision.
Here's what existing expats have to say:
– John, British expat in Qatar 3 years
"Buy new if you can afford it. New cars come with warranty and no history. If you can't buy new, buy from a reputable second hand dealer. If you buy a cheap second hand car, you'll end up spending the cost of a new car on repairs in the long run."
– Kathryn, Pilipino expat in Qatar 7 years
"Choose a car depending on how long you intend to stay in Qatar. At the time that I bought my car I did not see myself living in Qatar very long so a very expensive car was not an option. I chose a car that was safe, affordable and easy to resell."
– Jose, Spanish expat in Qatar 15 months
"Rent for a month or two to get use to the roads as driving conditions in Qatar can be dangerous."
– Jean, Indian expat in Qatar 5 years
"My car preference was based on the loan amount that my salary would allow. Think about a car that will be suitable for your family, if you have one. And get feedback from friends."
– Michael, Irish expat in Qatar 8 years
"Registering a car can be very time consuming. Prepare for a lengthy process with the traffic department."
– Simon, Pilipino expat in Qatar 10 years
"Financing is very important. Decide whether you'd like to finance your vehicle with a personal loan or a vehicle loan. A personal loan allowed me to maintain ownership of my car whereas a vehicle loan, although lower in rate, would have kept my car under bank ownership."
-Kishore, Indian expat in Qatar 4 months
"Glad I did not rush into buying a car. Be very careful buying a second hand car, the resale value of cars in Qatar is not good. Be very careful of the cars you buy and do research on the agency. Maintenance of cars is costly. Buy a car that is new to save on maintenance cost. If you have to buy second hand, buy something relatively new. In terms of models that are reliable and have good resale value, I would recommend Toyota. You can get better deals if you go to sub-dealers. "
– Cyril, Indian expat in Qatar 18 Months
"I used online classified sites such as Qatarliving.com to search for my ideal car and came across a great offer from Commercial Bank of Qatar for a low interest vehicle loan. I initially considered a second hand vehicle but after seeing the offer, I decided that a new vehicle would be best. I spoke to a loan representative at the bank and he told me to choose my car, let him know the showroom and he would take care of the rest. 3 days after I had my car. "
– Maha, Indian expat in Qatar 5 years
"You can buy quality used cars at bargain rates directly from sellers who are looking to leave the country. Expats who buy new cars then have to leave Qatar for whatever reason need to sell their car in a hurry. Often times these cars are in very good condition with a dealer warranty that is transferable."
Get the right vehicle with the right loan. Commercial Bank of Qatar is now offering a Vehicle Loan with rates as low as 2.39%.
This post is brought to you by Commercial Bank of Qatar.
Used lexus rx350 or VW Touareg which is better compairing maintenance and spare parts cost??
I heard about Qatar ride will be launched soon, this company they will Provide a very good service and better rate of car show room and personnel in GCC.
Also, it will help a lot the people in to find easy offer of different classified service like ( car polish + Batteries + Auto Repair ....).
in mean time anyone will be able to book a limousine + road assistant.
German Computer in Barwa Village... is excellent as per my experience for car check up. They will tell you exactly what faults are as per your type of inspection, Body (accidents), Engine & Gear & Full check up. It will give rough idea how much you gonna spend after purchasing used vehicle.
Australian Expat, 28 years in Qatar (on and off)
Qatar is the best place to buy second hands. You have more 3 year old cars here that most other non middle eastern countries.
Tips
1. If you are on a budget, getting a new car would mean passing up on an opportunity to own a car with better engine (albeit older) at the same price range. Weigh up the pros and cons. Take the car for a test drive before you make up your mind.
2. Toyota, Nissans and Honda offer better depreciation than other brands beyond the 2 year age mark.
3. Toyota, Nissan, Dodge, Honda, Merc, BMW, Porche offer good customer service.
4. Of all Japanese cars, Nissan's aircon seems to perform better across the range during peak summer
5. Honda and Subaru parts are on the pricier end of the Japanese spectrum
6. Take your car in for an inspection. The so called 'Computer check' places are cluey when it comes to uncovering faults with suspension, engine, steering, accident-history etc. Avoid availing checkup service of anything with 'German Computer' in their name. The name is not synonymous with quality checkup's anymore as the 'German Computer' title is very dilute with many independent's having setup workshops with name. I have seen 1 on salwa road complete with german flags and paintwork with very little clue of what needs to be checked.
7. When purchasing a new car, do check the place of assembly as VW, Toyota, Nissan etc increasingly offering Indian and Thai cars. Many a Ford low ends are assembled in Korea.
8. Avoid Korean cars like a plaque if you intend to drive it beyond warranty. Parts are expensive. And, if you are in an accident, KIA cosmetic parts cost an arm and a leg. 3rd party insurance will ask you to chip in 50% of the part price (depending upon the part) if an aftermarket or a refurbished part is not available. Its all in the fine print.
Is there any facility to know the vehicle's status as brand new or altered or any damage when we are purchasing a new car, if we know the vehicle identification number - VIN or chasis number
2.39% interest rate is flat, which in actual calculation term is more than 8% per year (per annum). The banks need to mention the Per annum (Per yearly) rates as is the practice and actual application world wide.
Buying a car with bank loan and that too on such heavy interest rate is not advisable, better save some, and buy a used car.