15 September 2022 · Driving Hints & Tips

Five Tips for Buying Your First Truck

Things you need to consider when buying your first truck

Any business-related investment can be a little daunting, especially when it’s a big purchase like a premises or large quantities of equipment. However, if you’re starting – or changing – to a career in the transport industry as an owner driver, the biggest investment you’ll make is in your first truck. With any big decision, there’s a lot to consider. For example… where to start. At Central Coast Hino, we’re not ones to leave you flapping in the breeze, so here are five tips (with a little advice) to keep in mind when you’re buying your first truck.

#1 – RESEARCH

While it seems obvious that you’d spend a fair amount of time researching various types of trucks and their features, our first tip is not so much about the truck, but the industry you’re venturing into.

There are many types of trucks for varying uses – light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty etc. But before you can decide on what type of truck you’re going to purchase, you’ll first need to know what you’ll be using the truck for. Will you be a contractor delivering to metropolitan areas, or are you looking for something that can handle a lot of interstate travel? How big are the loads you’re expecting to haul?

Research and reach out to people who are doing what you want to do for advice. Do they have a light-duty truck, or a medium-duty truck? What do they like and dislike about their vehicle for what they use it for?

Once you know the type of vehicle you need, you can refine your search to that category.

#2 – NEW OR USED?

The age-old question – should you buy a new vehicle, or a used one?

Used

It’s no secret a used truck can be a more financially viable option, but that’s usually where the benefits stop. Depending on the age or use of the truck, there’s a good chance there will be little to no OEM warranty on the vehicle. In fact, if there is a warranty, it will be from the dealer and will cover 12 months at best, and a few months at worst. But you’ll also need to read the fine print to see what you’re covered for.

New

With a new vehicle, OEM warranties generally cover you for years, and there are associated benefits with buying from a dealer, such as servicing. Hino provides owners with a variety of servicing options as part of Hino Advantage which includes Capped Price Servicing, as well as 3 Years 24/7 Roadside Assist across the range, and 5 Years Warranty and Roadside Assist now standard across all light-duty 300 Series trucks. Also, all Hino Genuine Parts come with a 3 Year unlimited kilometre warranty… which is ideal if you’re a first-time truck owner!

#3 – ASK THE EXPERTS

Regardless of the amount of research you’ll do, sometimes you need a little expert advice or information, so come and see us at Central Coast Hino and let us know what you’re after. After all, we’re truck enthusiasts, so we’re here to answer your questions. Pop in and say hello, there’s no need to be shy.

By telling us what you want and how the truck will be used, we’ll be able to recommend the best vehicle for your needs. The added advantage is that we’ll make sure that you develop a strong rapport with us, so we can also help tailor a service plan and schedule, ensuring you stay on the road longer, and your truck has a long, healthy and happy life.

#4 – TRANSMISSION

If you’ve done some research into trucks, you’ve probably noticed terms such as ‘True Automatic’, ‘Automatic Manual Transmission’ (AMT), and ‘Manual’. Many people believe there is only one transmission option for trucks – manual – but thanks to technology, that’s not the case. Our range of light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty trucks all come with ‘True Automatic’ and ‘AMT’ transmissions. In fact, for some of our lighter-duty trucks, you just need a car licence to jump behind the wheel, which will save you time and money on specialised training.

#5 – SAFETY FEATURES

Last, but by no means least, is safety features. Safety is one of the biggest factors to consider when purchasing a truck, and we believe it should play a major role in your decision-making process. Over the last ten years, truck safety has advanced in leaps and bounds. The comprehensive Hino SmartSafe suite of safety features have set the benchmark in Australia for many years. And, when you purchase a Hino truck, Hino SmartSafe comes as standard across the entire range, and includes features such as: