Car dealers have a habit of trying to sell you stuff you probably don't need, after you've already laid out a small fortune or taken out financing for a brand new car.
Some optional extras – like premium paint colours, alloy wheels and spoilers – are a matter of personal taste. If that's how you want to roll and you're willing to pay extra, so be it.
But the dealer may push other options that sound like they should have been included in the first place, such as rustproofing, paint protection, extra airbags or an extended warranty.
Are any of these really necessary or worth the money? Sometimes, but not very often.
On this page:
- Do your research before going to the dealership
- Unnecessary new car extras
- New car extras to consider
- New car extras to consider for safety reasons
- Other new car extras you might need
Do your research before going to the dealership
It seems that every car dealer has gone to the same salesmanship school – they tend to throw in a few optional extras to sweeten the deal and whet your appetite for more add-ons.
It's important to know the dollar value of what they're spruiking. Before you go shopping for a new car, check the manufacturers' websites. Most list the available options with prices and let you experiment with configuring a car in different ways. It may turn out that the sales sweeteners aren't so sweet.
With a little advance online work, you'll be in a much better position to negotiate a deal for any extras that you actually need – or at least want – when you step into the showroom.
Unnecessary new car extras
Extended dealer warranties
Extended dealer warranties can sound great in the showroom, but the devil is in the details. Dealer extended warranties often require you to have the car serviced exclusively by the dealer who sells you the car, and missing a scheduled service can void the warranty. They can also be very restrictive in what they cover.
Extended factory warranties are usually less restrictive than dealer warranties, but you still need to read the terms and conditions carefully before signing. In most cases the standard three- or five-year warranty is good enough.
Rustproofing and paint protection
Rustproofing and paint protection raise the question: isn't the car already rustproofed? The answer is yes. New cars are treated at the factory and any rust problems should be covered by warranty. Unless you live next to the ocean or like to drive along the beach, don't opt for extra rustproofing.
Paintwork is also covered by warranty for major problems and shouldn't need anything more than an occasional clean and polish. Dealers often charge several hundred dollars for paint and rust protection; if you really want this extra treatment, you can get it aftermarket (or even do it yourself) for much less money.
Your car's paintwork is already protected by your new car warranty.
Fabric protection
Fabric protection might consist of nothing more than the dealer treating the car seats with a can of fabric protector from the supermarket. You can do that yourself for a lot less and with just as good a result.
Alarms
Alarms are of questionable value. It's likely to be ignored if it goes off, and you could even be fined for noise pollution if it goes off without good cause. All new cars have engine immobilisers, usually with central locking, and that's all you need. If you want a fully featured alarm system, compare the dealer price with aftermarket options – you might get a better deal elsewhere.
If you want to know how steal-able your model of car is, see the NMVTRC car security ratings.
New car extras to consider
Some accessories can be useful and appealing additions to your car, but you'll probably get them cheaper – sometimes a lot cheaper – at auto stores rather than through the dealer.
However, some extras must be factory-fitted, or you might just want the convenience of having the dealer supply and fit the option for you. Dealer and factory-fitted accessories are also usually covered by the vehicle warranty, so it's your call.
Floor mats
Floor mats help keep the carpet clean, but do you really want to pay anything from $70 to more than $100 for them when you can get aftermarket car mats for $40 or less? The same applies to seat covers and boot liners.
Do you really want to pay $70 to $100 when you can get aftermarket car mats for $40 or less?
GPS navigation
Factory-fitted dash-mounted systems offer bigger screens and integrated functionality and are less easily stolen than portable models (although car thieves sometimes target these high-end systems and cause extensive damage to the dashboard in the process). You might also be forced to get your software and map updates from the car manufacturer. Some manufacturers and dealers offer portable GPS systems, but they're usually cheaper elsewhere.
New car extras to consider for safety reasons
Safety options are always worth having, and usually have to be factory-fitted, so you need to choose which ones you want before buying. To see the difference safety features can make, check out the ANCAP ratings.
Airbags: If side and curtain airbags aren't standard in your chosen model, they may be available as options for a few hundred dollars extra.
Stability control: Also known as Electronic Stability Program and Dynamic Stability Control, this is an anti-skid technology that applies braking to individual wheels to stabilise the vehicle when it detects a situation such as fishtailing.
Full-size spare tyre: Space saver and temporary-use spare wheels are common, even in big cars. They're only for emergency use and are designed to get you to the nearest garage. If you regularly drive long distances, especially in country areas where there aren't as many garages nearby, a full-size spare tyre is a better option.
Other new car extras you might need
Headlight and bonnet protectors: These are really only useful if you often drive on unsealed roads.
Nudge and bull bars: These aren't necessary for typical city driving and increase the risk of injury to others in a crash. But if you opt for one, a factory-fitted bar has the advantage of having been tested with the vehicle's airbag system – the bar affects the vehicle's behaviour in a collision. If you go for an aftermarket nudge bar, ask the supplier if it's compatible with the airbags in your car.
Premium sound systems: These can make travelling much more pleasant, but have a listen to the car's standard system first. It might be all you need, especially if it already has a smartphone connection, whether wireless or wired.
Roof racks: You can almost always find roof racks and roof luggage boxes cheaper aftermarket.
Special suspension: Sports (firmer springs and lower ride) or country suspension (with increased ride height) is useful for some drivers, but test-drive both the special version and the standard suspension so you know what you're getting before you commit yourself to this option.
Towbars: If you're after a towbar, get quotes from a couple of independent towbar installers to compare with the dealer price. The dealer price will probably be higher.
Window tinting: This is already standard on most cars. Do you really need even darker windows?
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
