How Long Does It Take To Get A New Car?

A new car is one of the most exciting things to buy. You spend weeks deciding what car you should buy, narrowing down the make, model and trim, and finally, you’re ready to get on the road. 

You hand over your details, and the salesperson says “Perfect! That will be with you in… 3 months.” 

Wait what? You have to wait how long?

While it’s possible for some cars to be driven away from the showroom on the day, this isn’t always the case. When you’re ordering a car to specific requirements, your car generally still needs to be built and shipped. 

In this article, we run through how long it takes to get a new car, looking at the time to order and receive your new vehicle. 

Placing An Order

Before you even think about your car delivery time, you have to first place the order.

If you’re paying cash for a car, it’s pretty simple. You’ll just need the documents to buy a car, and fill out any paperwork required in the showroom, or on your computer if you buy a car online. 

When you want to finance your car, it takes a little longer. Applying for finance, you’ll have to fill out an application either online or in person. This generally only takes about 15 minutes, but then you’ll then undergo a credit check. The time this takes will vary depending on the provider, but can take anywhere from a few days to a week to get approved. 

Once approved, if you’re financing with PCP, Car Hire Purchase, or leasing, you just need to pick up your car or wait for it to be delivered. When you’re paying for a car with a loan, you typically receive your money within a couple of days. 

To summarise:

• Application completion: around 15 minutes
• Credit check approval: 1-7 days 
• Loan funds: 1-5 days 

Lead Times

Once you’ve been approved for finance, or paid for your car, you then have the lead time. This is essentially the time it takes from the moment you ordered your car, until you get it. 

If you buy a car that’s ready to drive away from the showroom, and you’ve paid for it upfront, there’s no lead time. It’s yours to take.

But when you order a car to your specific requirements (a factory order), whether it’s the colour, car safety features, or general spec, the car generally has to be made to your order. This could be in a factory nearby, or potentially a completely different country where your car needs to be built and then shipped. 

This can be a fairly lengthy process, as on top of the time to build and ship the car, it then has to go through an inspection to check for any damage. It will be checked that it’s built to correct requirements, and inspected for any faults incurred when shipping. 

How long are lead times?

It’s almost impossible to give exact lead times until you’re ordering the car yourself. If you go for a car that’s not ready in the showroom, but is in stock, your wait time could be as little as a few days up to two or three weeks. 

However if you’re ordering a factory order car, it’s common to have a lead time of up to 3 months - sometimes longer. This might feel like a hefty wait, but when you’re ordering specific features, your car still has to be built and shipped. 

Some of the most influential factors on your lead time include:

• The model of car - If you opt for a popular car, the manufacturer will already have a long list of other orders to fulfill, and you’ll just be added to the end of it.
  
• The colour of the car - A small detail some may say, but the colour you choose could make a huge difference to your lead time. If you go for an unusual, uncommon or rare paint colour, it might take longer to arrive.
  
• When you order - It’s easily overlooked, but ordering at the right time can mean getting your car delivered weeks or even months sooner. There are peak times when manufacturers will be busiest, so it’s important to check out the best time to buy a car, or the best time to lease. 
  
• The features you choose - When buying a new car, you want it to be perfect. But if you’ve customised your car to the nth degree, you might be waiting a while. While minor details like the window tint won’t take long, features such as a sunroof could add an extra week to your wait.

How can I get a shorter lead time?

If you’re buying your first car and want to get it ASAP, there are ways around a long lead time. 

Manufacturers will often have large stock of a standard build of a car, with the most popular colour, features and trim. If you’re not bothered about having it custom or designed exactly to your needs, choosing one of these could save you substantial time.

What if I want to lease a car?

Wondering how long it takes to lease a car? The timings are fairly similar to buying, but generally you need to submit an application, undergo a credit check and then wait to be approved. 

Since most leasing companies get their cars through a dealership or manufacturer, they’ll have roughly the same wait times.

If you lease a car that’s in stock, you’ll probably get it within a couple of weeks. Want a custom factory order? You’re potentially going to be waiting months. 

Conclusion

Whether you decide to buy, finance, or lease a car, it’s important to be aware of delivery times before you commit. 

If you’re buying the car, it’s worth waiting a couple of months for a car you’ll have for the next ten years. On the other hand, if you need a car ASAP and only plan to lease for a few short years, waiting months just for your vehicle to arrive isn’t ideal. 

Looked at all the best ways to buy a car and still not convinced? Why not try Personal Contract Hire. Pick a car that’s in stock, and you could have your car in no time at all. Just head to Lease Fetcher, and easily compare all the best personal lease and business car leasing deals.