It is a new year for the car dealerships and they are keen to kick off the new financial year with a high level of sales. As such, you will continue to find great deals on new and used cars at car dealerships. With pressure to continue to meet their budgets they will be eager to provide you with the car you require at a good price.

To ensure that you not only receive a great deal on your car but also your car finance, utilise the services of a car finance broker. A broker will be able to provide you with a wide range of car financing options to ensure that you are provided with the best possible car finance deal. With such a wide array of car finance products you will be able to find a car finance solution tailored to your needs, circumstances and budget.

The rules for child restraints was amended recently to protect our children from injuries sustained in the event of a car accident. Children are to remain in a form of restraint until they are 7 years of age. For infants under 6 months an approved a rearward facing restraint is to be used, and this must only be used in the back seat. For children aged 6 months to under 4 years they must use either an approved rearward or forward facing restraint with an inbuilt harness. Once your child reaches 6 months it doesn’t mean they can be placed in a forward facing restraint. A forward facing restraint can only be used once they meet the weight or length limit for their rearward facing restraint.

Once again children from 4 years to 7 years of age can only be restrained in the back seats. They can use either a forward facing restraint with inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat. Once your child reaches 4 years of age do not place them in a booster seat until they reach the weight limit of 18 kg. It is recommended that children over 7 years of age still travel in the back seat and continue to use their booster seat until they reach 26 kg and meet the height limit of 145cm. For more information on child restraints visit the vic roads website.

Having a car that is safe is vital. Most new cars these days are fitted with at least driver and passenger air bags. The more prestigous the car, the more air bags you would expect to have fitted. Airbags that you may now find installed include, side, curtain and knee. This provides extra safety to occupants of the vehicle provided that a seatbelt is still worn.

Aside from ensuring that you are driving a safe vehicle you should ensure that you have the necessities in the event of an emergency. Roadside assistance is worthwhile but make sure you have the phone number and your member number in the vehicle. Ensure that your jack is in working order. Carry a torch in case you need to look in the bonnet at night. You should always carry a first aid kit in the event of an injury, particularly given you may not be close to medical assistance. Most people carry a mobile phone these days but ensure that it is charged. Carrying a mobile phone car charger is wise. A hazard triangle is particularly useful if working on a broken down car at night.

Jumper cables are very useful in the event of a breakdown as you can use these to jumpstart your car provided another vehicle is available to lend a hand. Having spare notes and coins tucked away for emergencies only will come in handy if you need food, fuel or any other essential.

With the school holidays amongst us we will see an increase of people travelling longer distances on our roads, and as such safety is a major concern. We wish to see the road toll reduced and this has been a very hot topic of conversation in the media of late. One issue that is consistently raised is the need for younger drivers to have safer cars. When young people are starting out it can be difficult to find the funds required for a newer model and therefore safer vehicle.

To see if you qualify for car finance on a new or used vehicle speak to a Madison Finance representative on 1300 887 967. We can help put you behind a safe vehicle to provide you with a better and safer driving experience.

We only have a couple of weeks left to the end of the financial year, which means the sales will be coming to a close. Car manufacturers require their dealerships to move their stock to make way for the latest model cars. Budgets are also required to be met by the dealerships so they are eager to clear their stock at reduced prices. Older stock will still be reduced to make way for the latest models once the new year starts but the need to meet end of financial year budgets will mean that the dealerships won’t be discounting like they are now. As such, now is a fantastic time of year to grab yourself a bargain.

If you wish to obtain a quote for car finance speak to one of our friendly representatives on 1300 887 967. We will be able to tailor a finance package to suit your needs, circumstances and budget. With your car finance approved you will be in a position to negotiate a favourable price for your car.