Whether you are a new graduate just out of college or you just finished saving up for that most awaited ride, buying your first car can either be an exciting experience or a nightmare waiting to happen. Do not however let the complexities involved in getting your first car to daunt you, this guide will help you make that intelligent decision when buying your first car without breaking a sweat.
Be Aware of Your Budget
When preparing your car budget, do not overstretch yourself. Work within the means you can afford. Do not forget to include all the additional expenses that come with owning a vehicle such as maintenance, gas, and repairs. Remember, the main idea is to pay in cash. However, if this does not work for you, you may look through other options such as leasing or taking out a loan depending on the method best suited to your financial well-being. Luckily, you can visit companies such as the Intelligent Car Leasing that provide UK cars for leasing and contract hire deals to personal business customers throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at a better rate helping you save cash.
What to Buy, New or Used?
So, are you looking for that new never used machine or one that is moderately used but still in good shape? Well, put the brakes on your excitement and look at what your finances are saying. How much money do you have? In what bracket can you make your purchase?
Even without having enough money to buy a new car, currently, there are various finance options available that can help you get any car. What are these payment methods?
They include getting a car on higher purchase terms, making a personal contract purchase or leasing out a car. If you intend on taking this route, make sure that you can cater for the expense without straining your pocket.
Get Insurance Cover
All cars have to be insured whether they are on the road on not. Insurance may be a little expensive for first-time drivers, however, make sure you get one that offers you sufficient cover.
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid or Electric?
How do you know which is the best car for you? Well, this is where understanding how a vehicle consumes fuel comes into play. If you are purchasing your vehicle to use for short distances, a car that consumes petrol is the best choice for you. Additionally, cars that consume diesel are best for long distances since they consume a lesser amount of fuel and have a lower tax and insurance rate. On the other hand, purchasing an electric car is not an ideal route to take for a first buy due to the lack of sufficient charging stations. Hybrids use electricity with either petrol or Diesel. They are slowly gaining popularity; however, due to the charging requirements, you can only use them for small routine trips.
Take A Drive Test
You have finally found the car that meets all your needs and is of the right price, before committing your hard earned money, make sure you take it for a test drive and understand how the car operates plus get comfortable with it. Do not hold back while test driving, try accelerating and braking keeping tabs on how the car responds to every single action.
With all these considerations in place, you can now quickly get on the front seat and start the search for your first car effortlessly