8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Purchasing Your First Car

Once you have learned how to drive, you will understand the change that it can bring to your life. When you get your driver’s license you will enjoy greater self-reliance and autonomy.

For the youths, learning to drive will lead to greater and more important life and monetary decisions especially as you enter into adulthood as a salaried worker, commuter, and homeowner.

Such decisions do not come easily, you will need to consider the big decisions before making them as they can prove to be more permanent than what you may be used to. And this is not limited but includes your first private vehicle, house, or vacation.

Making purchase decisions about a house or where to vacation is not in our wheelhouse but we can help when it comes to buying a car – especially if you are looking for what could be the best first car to buy. We’ll give you a bonus tip! Do consider purchasing car mats as they help protect the interior of your car from dirt and grime, going a long way in saving on cleaning costs. Get yours today at Simply car mats!

We will be exploring the key factors you should consider when making your first car purchase and also highlighting noteworthy things to have an eye out for to make the best possible purchase.

1. How important is the brand and model of the car?

Typically, a car is built to get you from one place to another and this does not differ greatly as long as it is primarily a passenger car. Where the cars really differ is in the details, different car models and brands will have different configurations for the dashboard, the design of the buttons and functionality will be different, and most importantly the heart of the vehicle which is the engine.

If you were to ask someone who has driven for a long time, they would have a wide range of suggestions and will go so far as to make claims that a specific brand and model is the ultimate best choice for you to consider. But those are based on their personal experience or preference.

These days there is a near-endless assortment of cars to choose from. However, what most new drivers usually prioritize is the price and durability of the car. New drivers typically do not bother themselves with whether or not the car has a nice shape or if the technical specifications are up to par with the latest technology.

If you have read this far, there is a high chance you fall within this category of new drivers and this means you are open to many more choices that will fit your needs and not break the bank.

There truly isn’t a definite answer to what is the best brand or model although many will claim and attest that there is.

2. Should I go for auto or manual transmission?

When learning how to drive you might have experience driving both, but with automatic transmission getting more and more popular is that necessarily the choice you should go for?

You may have a rough idea which you are leaning towards and you may not have made a concrete decision which is perfectly okay.

There are benefits and downsides for either choice so it really boils down to your personal preferences and your needs.

Should you choose a car with a manual transmission, it is usually more affordable to buy new from the car dealership. It is also cheaper when you eventually send your car for servicing. This makes the choice for a manual car more wallet-friendly than an auto one. And if your car is relatively new, it may even be more economic in terms of fuel consumption if compared to the same version of the car. Overall, this can easily save you a couple of thousand dollars even if you buy a new manual version of the car from a dealership.

So how does an auto car stand up to the test? Firstly, it is far more convenient to drive as the learning curve is far less steep than compared to a manual car. Under proper care, the servicing fees would not differ much from a manual one as well. With advancements in technology, it can possibly out best manual cars in fuel efficiency in terms of distance traveled on one tank of fuel.

3. How long will I be using this car?

The quality of the car you choose can also be dependent on how long you see yourself using it for. Some might only intend to use their first car for a couple of years while some will be okay with sticking with it for many more years to come.

The general rule of thumb is that if you wish to use it for longer, then you will need to shell out a larger sum of money to get a car that is in good condition that will last you. Even if you do find a cheaper car on sale in the car market, it does not necessarily mean that it will last you as older cars tend to require more frequent servicing and fixing which is due to the mileage that has been accumulated over the years of use.

12 years is about as long a modern car can last before it requires extensive fixing due to the wear and tear of the parts. Should you require a car that long without changing, you should keep that number in mind.

If you find yourself settling for a cheaper car due to financial constraints it might be wise to hold off on the purchase and save up more for a quality car, especially if you are able to borrow a car for when you really need it. It can be easy to settle for the cheap and instant option of purchasing a car that is sold at a bargain and being okay with its poor condition. But it should not be the way to go as the cheaper options when taken into consideration over time might become more expensive.

You may check the history of the car’s owner with license plate owner lookup tool.

4. What is an acceptable vehicle condition?

8 questions to ask yourself before purchasing your first car

The usual dilemma is choosing between a new car and a second-hand car. Where a second-hand car is usually seen as inferior in quality and condition compared to a new one, which while isn’t untrue, there is a spectrum in terms of condition for used cars. Some used cars if taken care of properly can still serve their function for a considerable amount of time.

You do not want to have to constantly go to the repair shop with your first car so the condition of the car is going to be important in your decision-making process. Buying a car at a steal or a price so low it is almost unexpected and surprising may not always work in your favor as you may end up paying a lot more when it breaks down and requires replacement and repairs.

This means that the price of the car may not be the best indicator of the quality and condition of the car. You should always do your homework and due diligence before making any purchase such as have a look for yourself at the state of the car and know the depreciation rate of the car and know what is the proper expected price of a used car. Compare the price of the used car to if it was new so you can properly manage your expectations.

5. How safe is the car?

8 questions to ask yourself before purchasing your first car

You want to ensure that you feel safe in your first car. One easy way to know this is by checking the safety standards that the cars have been graded with. For example, the Australian New Car Assessment Program rates cars out of 5 stars. The program rates according to observed safety for both the people in the car and pedestrians.

The recommended course of action would be to get a car that has a perfect score, 5 out of 5, and it will not be difficult to find a large variety of cars that fit the bill.

6. How many past owners have there been?

If the car has had many owners, it can be difficult to ascertain if the car has been well taken care of such as regular maintenance and if it has been taken in for repairs. This might make it difficult to be at ease about the condition of the car and usually for cars that have seen many different owners they are usually neglected.

You should obtain the service history of the car so that you have a comprehensive understanding of the car’s condition and when you would need to send it for servicing.

If you are unable to obtain the relevant information and the car has gone through several hands, it is probably not suitable for your first car.

7. Is car registration important?

Car registration can cost you a significant amount but there is a way you can save a few bucks if you know what to look out for and what to ask the owners about.

Some second-hand cars might already come with registration as they would have been driven before being sold.

So, one important to ask would be if the car is registered. You will be able to save on registration even for a couple of months. This can be significant especially if the used car you’re getting is cheap.

If the car has not been used or stored in the yard then perhaps it might not be registered as no one is using it on the road.

8. Where can I keep this car?

8 questions to ask yourself before purchasing your first car

The last thing you want happening to your first car is it getting damaged or stolen. Having a proper garage can save you a lot of money but if you do not have one and you have to park your car on the road for extended periods of time then you might have to buy more expensive insurance to protect your car which will add up to the total expenditure.

Conclusion

With these eight questions answered, you’re all ready to go out and buy your first car! Good luck and have fun with it!

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