Buying your first car? This is an exciting time and everyone remembers their first car, but it can also be daunting and a lot of money to spend. New drivers spend £3,500 on average on their first car, but what should you be looking out for?
Consider Your Budget
In addition to the cost of the car itself, you also need to remember the insurance, fuel, road tax, MOT and maintenance costs and these can all add up to a lot. For most people, used cars are the best and most affordable option as you can make big savings, get more for your money and they are cheaper to insure. It is also likely that you will be selling in a few years, so a used car will help you to avoid the biggest depreciation hit.
Check Over the Vehicle
Checking the vehicle over is often what causes the most amount of stress for a new motorist. It is also a hugely important step as you are unlikely to have the manufacturer warranty in place, so you want to make sure that the car is in a good condition. You should carefully check the exterior, engine, tires, interior and odometer. There is a lot of helpful information online on how to check over a used car, but it is also a good idea to bring someone else along. Additionally, be sure to get a vehicle history check carried out to uncover any secrets about the car.
Test Drive
You should also always take a car for a test drive before making a purchase. This is so that you can test out all of the features and identify any issues with the performance, but also to ensure that you feel happy, safe and confident behind the wheel. Again, there is helpful info online on how to test drive a car and what to look out for.
Shop Around for Insurance
Finally, you should always shop around for insurance. For new motorists, insurance can be particularly high and a major cost to cover. The type of car that you drive will be a factor, so you should always find a car that will be affordable to insure. You should also use a comparison website that will help you to find the best deal (remember that a third party is not always the cheapest!).
Hopefully, the advice in this post will prove to be useful and help you to find the right first car to help you to get started with driving with confidence. It is a major decision to make, so you want to take your time to ensure that you find a car that is right for your needs.
