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Delivery Times

Depending on whether you’re buying new or used, you can expect a variety of delivery times but make sure you know when the car is ready to be picked up.

- New cars may have to be ordered from the factory, depending on the specification, so you can expect to wait as long as two weeks, or more if the car demand from market.
- Recondition cars, CBU cars and used cars should be ready for collection fairly soon after you agreed a deal, so agree a delivery time of no more than two weeks.
- When buying privately, the seller usually wants to arrange the hand-over as soon as possible, so you should expect to set an early delivery date.
- If the car requires servicing, optional extras fitted or any other work, agree on a realistic timescale for it to be completed. Allow time for the work to be carried out correctly.


Once you’ve found the perfect car, you will probably be asked to leave a deposit before you pay the full amount and take delivery. There are some simple rules to follow to help things run smoothly.

- Remember that a deposit is just that; it removes the car from sale on the premise that you will buy it. If you cancel because you’ve changed your mind, or have found another car, you could stand to lose your deposit.
- The level of deposit required will depend on where you are buying. A small independent dealer may only require RM 300 against a cheaper car, while prestige dealers could want RM 3000 against a factory order. When buying privately, negotiate a sensible amount, RM 200 is fair.
- At a garage, you can pay a deposit with cash, cheque, or credit card. Personal cheques take time to clear and credit cards offer the highest level of protection because any payments made are covered by the Consumer Credit Act. This will give you greater rights if the garage tries anything underhand.
- Only pay the balance of the deal when you pick up the car. Personal cheques and bankers drafts are easier but personal cheques take time to clear, while bankers drafts take just 30 minutes to verify.
- Don’t try and pay large sums of money in cash.
- Credit cards may be the safest way to pay but a dealership may charge a handling fee on larger amounts due to the commission they have to pay on every card transaction.