Tips For Buying Your First Car

So you have finally passed your driving test! Firstly, congratulations are most definitely in order, as you have managed to overcome all of the stresses involved with taking driving lessons and facing up the test itself. Secondly, you now need to start looking for your first car.

The first car you own is going to mean a lot to you for so many reasons, so it is important to make the right choice. Choosing a speedster will put a new driver in danger, in addition to ramping up insurance costs enormously. By following these tips, you will find the perfect first car.

Your Budget

Before you start looking, establish your budget. Make sure you are realistic, as this will allow you to narrow your search down and will ensure you aren’t tempted by a vehicle that you can’t afford. You also need to be able to incorporate your tax, MOTs, insurance and cost of fuel into this budget.

What Do You Need?

Consider how often you are going to be using the car and what distances it is expected to travel. If you’re going to be driving a lot, you should prioritise things like a low mileage, high fuel efficiency and quality tyres. Reliability is always going to be a concern, especially if you are buying second-hand, so make sure to do your research to find out about the true qualities of a car. Also, and this should go without saying, avoid buying a car that does not have an up-to-date MOT or tax, as you may end up paying far more to fix issues that would have been revealed if the car had its MOT.

Test Drive

Up to this point, it is likely that you will have only ever driven your driving instructor’s car, so it is a good idea to take any potential new vehicle out on a test drive. Not only will this allow you to identify any issues, but it will also give you an idea of how comfortable the car is to drive for somebody of your current skill level. If it feels like it has more power than you are able to manage, it may be a good idea to look elsewhere.

Know Your Pricing

This comes back down to research again, but you should be aware of the market price of any vehicle that you are considering buying. With the web at your disposal it is now easier than ever to get a good idea of what you should be paying, so make sure that you don’t allow yourself to get ripped off. If a dealer won’t budge from a clearly unfair price, leave them behind and look again. There are plenty more cars available at fair prices.

Check The VIN

The Vehicle Identification Number will tell you a lot about the car you are looking to buy. More information can be found at gov.uk, but is essence you will want to check this to ensure that the car you buy is legitimate and hasn’t been put up for sale by somebody who doesn’t own it, amongst other things.