Passing your test is an incredible feeling and will open up an entirely new world for you. When you get your license, it is important that you find a car that will help you to get started with this new chapter in your life, and it can be hard to know how to go about doing this. You might want to buy a flash sports car, but when you are first getting started with driving, you should opt for something that is basic, reliable, safe, and affordable to both buy and run. So, how can you go about finding the right first car? Keep reading for all that you need to know.
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Calculate How Much You Can Spend
Before you start looking, you first need to work out how much you are able to afford. In addition to the cost of the car itself, you also need to factor in fuel, insurance, road tax, and maintenance costs. Once you work out how much you are able to spend, this will help you to filter your results and work out whether it is best to buy new or used.
New or Used?
Following this point, one of the biggest decisions that a motorist needs to make when buying a car is new or used. In most cases, it makes more sense for a new motorist to buy a used car. This is because it is more affordable, you get more for your money, and there is so much variety. Not only this, but it is likely that you will want to replace the car after a few years, and buying used will help you to avoid the biggest depreciation hit.
Establish Your Individual Requirements
There are a number of aspects that make a good first car outlined in the intro, but you also need to consider your individual needs. You need to think about how many people you will have in the car, what your storage needs are, the kind of trips and roads that you will be driving on, and any technology that the car needs to have.
Research Popular First Cars
It is also a good idea to look online to research what are popular first cars right now. Car magazines and blogs will always have features for the best cars for new drivers, which can do a lot of the hard work for you and help you to draw up a shortlist of suitable cars to look out for.
Use an AI-Powered Search Tool
Another way to find a suitable car that fits your individual requirements is to use an AI-powered search engine tool. These tools allow you to enter a relevant search term, such as “safe and spacious hatchback,” and then find the best reviews from owners of suitable cars. This is a smart way to find cars that tick all of your boxes and could speed up the process of finding the right car. You can check out Divicars to see how this works and to find the right car for you.
Find a Reliable Dealership
Once you have a model or two to look for, you will want to search online and find a reliable dealership to buy from. Many people are tempted to buy from a private seller as it is usually cheaper, but this is a risk, and used car scams are common. Instead, buying from a reliable dealership will give you greater consumer protection; you will find high-quality cars that have been tested and benefit from finance deals, which can make the cost of a new car much easier to manage.
Bring Someone Along to Check Over the Car
Once you have found a dealership that has a car that you are interested in for sale, you will want to arrange a viewing of the car and a test drive. As a new motorist, it is a good idea to bring someone along with you to help with this, whether this is a parent, friend, or anyone else. You can read information online about how to check over a car, but it is always helpful to have someone else that can offer their opinion, provide moral support and be an extra set of eyes.
Take a Test Drive
Once you have inspected the car, the next step to take is to take it for a test drive. The key here is to make sure that you feel confident and comfortable driving the car and also to put the car through its paces to identify if there are any potential issues. You will want to drive the car at different speeds, test the brake and handbrake, assess the steering, and check that all of the electrics work as they should.
Check Documentation and Get a History Check
It is not just the car that you need to check, as you will also want to go through all of the relevant documentation that the car comes with, including the logbook, owner’s manual, receipts, and anything else that the car comes with. It is also smart to get a history check carried out to ensure that the car does not have any hidden secrets that could cause an issue down the line.
Negotiate a Fair Price
It can be daunting, but you should not shy away from negotiating as this could help you to make significant savings. You should compare costs with the same model at different dealerships and consider the condition of the vehicle to establish a fair price. Be friendly yet firm, and do not be afraid of walking away if you cannot get the price that you need.
Hopefully, this post will come in useful for a new motorist when it comes to buying their first car. Buying your first car is exciting, but it can also be daunting, and it is a decision that you need to get right. This is a car that you need to feel happy, safe and confident driving and is within your budget so that you can really make the most out of this new chapter in your life.