7 Tips For Buying Your First Car

It doesn’t matter if you are seventeen or thirty-five, buying your first car is a big deal and is something that you should be excited about. However, as excited as you may be, you also need to be careful, or you could end up with a deathtrap for a car. If you want to ensure that your car buying experience runs smoothly and you get the car you were looking for, here are some useful tips.

Pick A Price

The first thing that you need to do is sit down and decide realistically how much you can afford to spend on a car and then stick to this. You can still look at cars a little above your budget and haggle the price, but you should never buy something over your budget, even if you really like it. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a car that you can’t afford to pay the insurance on.

Do Your Research

Make a list of the types of things that you want your car to be or have, such as a specific size. Then, with this list, you can research different manufacturers and models that meet your requirements. Don’t just pick the first model that matches; Continue researching, and look at the reviews of different cars.

Shop Around

Check out a few different garages in your area, go online and look at the cars at Bob Gillingham Ford, and check out newspapers and online selling sites. Buying a car is a big deal, so it’s completely fine and incredibly sensible to take your time and look at a few different cars from different sellers.

Take A Friend

Taking a friend with you when you view cars is a great idea, as they will be able to stop you from giving in and spending more money than you have on a car. It’s even better if they know more about cars than you do, as they’ll be able to spot if the seller is trying to rip you off.

Ask Questions

An honest seller isn’t going to mind answering a few questions about the car, so ask as many as you can think of. If you’re buying a used car, ask why the owner is selling it and if there have been any issues with it, to ensure you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Have A Test Drive

A test drive is essential to be certain that the car works as it should and that you feel comfortable driving it, so never say no to one. Test absolutely everything, including the radio, and if you’re unsure about something, check it again.

Be Sure

Don’t buy a car just because you’ve been looking for a while and want one now. These things take time, and you need to be sure that you’re happy with a car before you go ahead and buy it, or you’ll only end up disappointed.

Buying your first car can seem a little confusing, but, hopefully, with these tips, you are surer of what you’re doing.

Emily Muelford
Emily is a British writer whose love of car culture is augmented by a fascination with both the European and American automotive markets. Her perspective is uniquely fish and chips.