You need a new car or a used car. Whether it's your first car, or you're a seasoned buyer, its always good to take some expert advice. Carwale’s buying and selling advicedoes just this, offering useful tips for everything, from your legal standing to explaining the new number plate system.

Before you go any further you need to consider one thing. Is the car you're looking to buy suitable for your needs? It may sound like a simple question - but it is so easy to be distracted by flash or impractical cars when you're looking for a new car.

Prioritise what you really need in a car. Is it space or speed? Looks or practicality? There's no point buying a roadster if you want to carry your family of 4. Likewise, why buy a big clumsy off-roader if you're a city dweller? Why considering mileage at top-priority while you don't travel even 10 kms a day? A petrol car or diesel car?

To answer these questions, and make your buying and selling experience as easy as possible - read on - we've compiled the guide that should provide the answers to all your questions.

New or Used

• New is New! Nothing beats the smell of a new car, the thrill of driving away in a car that is yours, one that's never been owned by anyone else, but it comes at a price in the form of depreciation. You can virtually write off 20 per cent of the purchase price the moment you drive away from the dealer because it's then a used car. Cars depreciate faster in the first two or three years of their life and the new car buyer has to cop that for the pleasure of being the first owner. By buying used it's possible to avoid the heaviest depreciation. Cars will still depreciate in their latter years, but at a lower rate. New car buyers can choose the colour of their car, the trim colour, the engine, transmission and other options and accessories, but used car buyers have to take what's available.
• New car buyers have the reassuring backup of a new car warranty so they know that if anything goes wrong they won't be up for a big repair bill. Anyone buying from a used care dealer will also have a warranty, but it won't be for as long as the new car warranty. Private buyers don't have any warranty.
• By buying used it's possible to get behind the wheel of a better car than you might when buying new. For the cost of a new Zen or Indica it is possible to drive a used City or Scorpio.
• There is always the risk of buying a 'lemon' when buying used because there is no way of knowing how previous owners have treated a car.