Buying your first car is an exciting time, but it’s important to get the right vehicle for you.
Your first car will most likely be one of the most expensive items you have bought to date, so you need to find a vehicle that suits you and your circumstances.
We’ve put together some tips to help you when buying your first car, so you’ll be on the road in no time.
Be realistic about your monthly budget
If you’re thinking about paying for your car in monthly installments, it’s important to be realistic about your budget.
If, like many drivers, you are going to be purchasing your first car on finance, don’t be tempted to go for something you can’t afford just because it looks more modern. Buying something on finance is a big commitment - you’re probably going to be paying it off for 12 months or longer.
Remember, it’s not just the car you’ll be paying for, you’ll also be paying out for all the expenses that come with owning a car, these include:
- Petrol/diesel.
- Tax and MOT.
- Repairs.
- Insurance.
- Car washes.
- Parking fees.
Where will you be driving?
When choosing your first car, think about where you will actually be driving. For example, if you do a lot of inner city driving, or driving in heavily congested areas, you’ll probably be more suited to a smaller, hatchback vehicle.
However, if you live out in the country, and most of your driving will be done on unkempt country roads, you will probably be more suited to a four wheel drive vehicle.
Take a test drive
You can research online until you’re blue in the face, but nothing will give you a better feel of the car than actually getting behind the wheel and taking it for a spin.
A test drive should take at least half an hour, so that you can get a good idea of how the car drives and, just as importantly, whether or not it suits you.
Do your research on insurance premiums
When looking for car insurance, don’t be afraid to shop around. Just because an insurance company is well-known does not necessarily mean that it will be the cheapest.
Here are some tips for shopping for car insurance:
- Don’t assume that third party cover will be the cheapest. In fact, sometimes comprehensive cover can work out cheaper.
- Don’t be tempted to make changes or modify your car, this will only make your insurance more expensive.
- Always be honest on your insurance forms. Failure to do so could result in your insurance being deemed as invalid, and you could even face a criminal conviction.
For more information on our young driver insurance, click here.
