Consider Both Current And Future Needs
Purchasing a vehicle is a long-term proposition so youll want to be extremely careful about purchasing a vehicle that will meet your needs now and in the future. Sure, that 2 door sports car may seem like a great idea today but a few years down the line, its lack of space and high insurance cost could wear on your patience. Pet ownership, children, job changes, and moving to a new climate can all have a major impact on what you need your vehicle to do.
Try to stick to vehicles that meet a variety of needs without going into too much specialization. For example, a 4 door sedan will serve a variety of needs while a 2 door pick-up truck may not. At the end of the day, this is entirely up to you but you dont want to suffer from dreaded FOMO and end up with a vehicle that does not meet your needs or your expectations in the future.
Take Good Care Of Your Vehicle
The best way to ensure that you get the most miles out of your first car is to take good care of it. Consult the cars owners manual to find out when you should plan to perform regular maintenance on the car.
Then, find a mechanic you like to work with for your repairs. Its helpful to work with a local mechanic who knows your car and its history. And when you find someone you trust, you can lean on them for advice on when to perform major regular maintenance, like replacing timing belts and other things that will help your car last as long as possible.
Again, once you buy your car, you should be budgeting every single month for maintenance costs. Even if youre buying new, the cost of tires, oil changes, brake pad changes, and other regular items can total up really quickly!
Other than this, enjoy owning your new car!
The Art Of Negotiation
Dont get stuck paying the sticker price! Unlike most things youll buy, the price is negotiable. Used car prices are typically more flexible, as they will not be linked to the manufacturers production costs. When negotiating the price, its especially important to have a parent or other adult around, even if you take the lead in the bargaining.
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Researching And Finding A New Car
For some people, choosing and deciding where to buy a first car may be trickier than determining how to pay for it. When choosing a car, weigh practical factors such as the following:
- How much youll be driving: Consider the gas youll be using daily.
- Your experience as a driver: Consider a bigger car with more protection and safety equipment and features and a good safety rating if youre a newer driver.
- How much space you have to park: In urban areas where parking is scarce, a smaller car may make more sense.
These practical considerations should help to narrow your search.
Next up is where to buy your car. Car dealerships used to get a bad rap, but there are many places to buy a car now, and some dealerships have softened their hard-sell approach.
Shop Online, Buy in Person
Many people shop for new and used cars online then arrange to test drive and purchase their car in person. Sites like TrueCar partner with thousands of dealers so that buyers can compare prices from many sources.
Shop and Buy 100% Online
Carvana allows buyers to shop for and purchase a car online before having the vehicle shipped to their home. If a buyer prefers to pick up the car, Carvana reimburses $200 of any necessary airfare. Carvana offers buyers a seven-day money-back guarantee, so there is a week-long trial period.
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There Are Many Other Aspects Of Driving Besides Going From One Place To Another
There are several things that you probably should not attempt to do during your first time driving. Some examples are: fast food drive-through lanes, parallel parking, drive-up teller windows at banks, and filling up at gas stations. The sole purpose of your first time behind the wheel should be to get you acquainted with the feeling of controlling a vehicle.
Keeping these simple guidelines in mind as you prepare to drive for the first time will help make the experience a little less scary. Driving is not something that should be feared, but it is a huge responsibility. Every time that you get behind the wheel, you are taking your safety and the safety of others into your own hands. Make sure that you are prepared to drive for the first time by keeping calm and being knowledgeable about the rules of the road.
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Ensure You Have A Valid Drivers License
As a Newcomer looking to drive in Canada, you want to ensure you have a valid driverâs license so you can legally drive here. In some provinces it is strictly required to have a Canadian license â in others, you may be able to drive with your International Driving Permit. Check with the government of your province or territory for details:
What Are The Safest Cars For New Drivers
Generally, the newer the car the safer it is – both in terms of how well it protects you if you’re involved in an accident, and the features it has to prevent you from getting into trouble in the first place.
Anti-lock Braking Systems , Electronic Stability Control and Auto Emergency Braking are all features to look out for if you’re buying your first car.
Euro NCAP’s crash testsand safety ratings are the best guide to finding a safe car. But they change their test regime and rating system every few years, so you can only really compare their star ratings between car models of a similar age. For example, a 4-sat vehicle from 2015 is likely to be considerably safer than a 4-star vehicle from 2000.
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What Cars Cost Less To Insure
Put yourself in the insurance companys shoes. Would you rather insure a new driver for a £6,000 hatchback with a small engine and a built-in alarm, or an expensive supercar with a 200mph top speed? Generally speaking, the cheapest cars to insure are modest, sensible models with less powerful engines and low repair costs in case you have a crash.
All cars are given an insurance group number from 1 to 50, with 1 being cheaper to insure than the higher numbers. There are other factors that insurance providers use to calculate the cost of your policy, like the area you live in and the job that you do. But generally, an inexpensive car with a small engine will help keep insurance costs low.Remember that you can ask insurance companies for a quote on a car before you buy it. Every Cazoo car has its insurance group included in its details on the website.
Choosing The Right First Car
Choosing the right make and model is both the first thing you should do and the last. As weve discussed above, you need to have a budget, which informs which models are available to you.
Yet in order to work out a realistic budget you first need to choose a car as an example. So the best thing to do in your research is to pick a car and then use it as an example that can inform your next choice, and so on. If the insurance on the second car is half that of the first one, you can focus on the second one until you find something better.
Picking a car can be as simple as liking the look of one, but there are a number of important things that are worth considering when you are looking at which model to get – well put aside the financial considerations as those have been discussed above.
The size is an important factor. As a first-time driver youll most likely want a smaller car, as these are typically easier to drive and park and cheaper to fuel. Pick a model with good visibility and itll be easier to get used to seeing where to place it on the road as you get used to driving.
If you do go for a larger car as a first car, it would be a good idea to choose a model with parking sensors and a reversing camera, as these features make it much easier to park. – one of the hardest things to get used to as a new driver.
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Come Up With A Shopping List
If youre shopping for a used car, you can use Carfaxs car listings to see whats available near you in your price range, and from there, you can look for models that meet your needs. Make note of the models that pop up often these may be good candidates because youll have a range to choose from in terms of price, condition, mileage, and features. Get familiar with the brands and models that catch your eye, and check out their reviews so you know what to expect. Now, start making a list of vehicles that you want to check out in person.
Insurance And Taxing Your Car
Remember that a major part of your running costs will be insurance and tax. For a first car itâs always a good idea to get something that isnât massively powerful and in one of the lower insurance groups. These will also often have lower road tax costs, with some having none at all.
Hopefully this guide to buying your first car will help you choose the right vehicle.
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Learn About Car Loans
For a majority of car buyers, buying a car also means getting a car loan. Car loans for first-time buyers are plentiful in the financial market, but youll need to do your homework to get the lowest interest rate and save the most money. Smart shoppers read over all of the possible terms for a car loan instead of simply going with the one with the lowest monthly payment.
Dont Worry This Should Be Fun
Smile! Buying your first car is a big deal!
Your first car should be a stepping stone towards your financial independence and serve you well for many, many years. It should also be a huge accomplishment and an incredibly fun process to be involved in!
Now that youre now armed and ready its time to hit the ground running and get behind the wheel. Ready? We think you are too.
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How To Pay For A Car
Figuring out how to pay for your first car can be daunting, but there are options for every financial situation. Knowing your before purchasing a vehicle is essential. If your score is relatively low, your ability to get a low interest rate on a car loan could be affected.
Buying a car in cash can be beneficial as long as you’re not depleting your savings. For non-cash buyers, car loans and leasing are the options. A loan can be obtained from a dealership or a third-party lender such as a bank. Leasing is similar to a long-term rental. Monthly payments are made for a set period, usually a few years. Once the period is up, the car is returned. Buyers who lease don’t own the vehicle. Buyers who finance the vehicle are paying towards eventual ownership.
Car-Buying Options
- Details
- CashThe apparent advantage of paying with cash is the simplicity of the transaction. Going forward, you have no car payments and no interest to pay. You can still negotiate a final sale price with the dealer even if you do plan to pay by cash.
- FinancingTo save the most money, buyers should shop around for optimal terms and interest rates. Be prepared to provide a lender with proof of identity and creditworthiness .
- LeaseThere are mileage limits on leased vehicles that can be relatively expensive if exceeded. One significant advantage of the lease is that the monthly payments are often lower than a typical car loan.
How Do I Know If A Car Is Safe
Most new cars have an official safety rating from an independent organisation called Euro NCAP. Each car gets a star rating out of five, which reflects how well it protects passengers from harm, as well as a more detailed report that you can find on Euro NCAPs website. The rating is based partly on a crash test, but also on the cars ability to prevent accidents from happening in the first place. Newer cars come with technology that can detect danger and take action faster than you might react.
The Euro NCAP star ratings give you a reasonable indication of how safe a car is, but there can be more to it than that. A five-star car from 2020 will probably be safer than a five-star car from 2015. And a five-star luxury 4×4 will probably be safer than a five-star supermini. But above all, the safest car is one with a safe driver – no amount of airbags will change that.
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Test Driving A Car From A Private Seller
If youre buying from a private seller, be sure to call ahead to schedule an appointment. When youre talking to the seller, try to find out as much as you can. Ask about:
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How many miles the vehicles traveled
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How long its been since its had maintenance performed
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Whether its ever been in a crash
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If anything is currently broken
Dont feel shy about bringing up items youre concerned or curious about. After all, if it turns out the car isnt what youre looking for, its better to know ahead of time so you can avoid wasting the sellers time.
When you go to test drive a car, we recommend that you bring a parent or other knowledgeable adult along with you . Having an adult with you thats bought a car before can ensure youre taken seriously and treated with respect. Moreover, the adult may be able to point out potential issues you may not have noticed.
Know Where To Go To Get Your First Credit Card
If you’re enrolled in college, you have a good chance of getting approved for a student credit card from a major credit card issuer. However, some student credit cards have high interest rates and annual fees, both bad options for a first credit card.
If you’ve been responsible with a checking or savings account, try applying for your first credit card at your bank. An existing banking relationship can improve your chances of getting a credit card application approved, especially if youve handled your account responsibly. You can apply online, but visiting a bank branch would put you face-to-face with a representative who may have more authority to get your application approved.
Retail and department stores typically have more favorable approval odds. On the downside, they have high interest rates that make it expensive to carry a balance from one month to the next. Another downside of these cards is they aren’t versatileyou can use them only in that store. However, retailers often encourage spending by offering discounts for using the card and having a retail store credit card as your first credit card can help you build up a good enough credit history to apply for a major credit card within a few months.
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How To Buy Your First Car
To buy your first car, you will need to create a budget, research models, get a loan, find a dealership, and then negotiate the salejust the beginning of your new responsibilities as a car owner.
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Insure Your First Car
As mentioned earlier, auto insurance is mandatory in Canada. There are four types of insurance third-party liability, statutory accident benefits, direct compensation and property damage coverage, and uninsured automobile coverage. Provincial laws dictate the minimum required amount for each type, but most insurers recommend upgrading just to be sure.
When choosing an insurance company, be sure to do your research on prospective providers and work with a licensed broker.
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How To Buy A Car
This article was co-authored by Bryan Hamby. Bryan Hamby is the owner of Auto Broker Club, a trusted auto brokerage in Los Angeles, California. He founded Auto Broker Club in 2014 out of a passion for cars and a unique talent for customizing the car dealership process to be on the buyers side. With 1,400+ deals closed, and a 90% customer retention rate, Bryans focus is to simplify the car buying experience through transparency, fair pricing, and world class customer service.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 308,757 times.
Finding and buying a perfect car is not an easy task. There are many decisions to make and factors to take into account, not to mention the rainbow of colours to choose from. The price, of course, has to be a deciding factor, as well as how often you drive the car. Whether you’re buying new or used, from a private seller or a car dealership, knowing what you want ahead of time and being able to walk away are two of the most important things you can do when buying a car. Read on for more information on how to buy a car.
