Guide To Buying Your First Car

Aug 20, 2020

Buying your first car is a huge moment. Whether you are taking a loan, saved up money, or your parents are financing it, you will never forget it. Therefore, it is important to make the best choice while car shopping to avoid any regrets. This guide to buying your first car will help you with that. Following these tips can ensure you get to drive your dream car.

Setting a Budget

First off, set a budget you can stick to. It can be very tempting to keep bumping up the price you had in mind because of minor “nice-to-haves.” Not having a fixed budget can result in two things: you will either buy a car that is way outside your budget and have to make ends meet to afford it. Or you will be disappointed with what you purchased for not meeting your expectations. Therefore, proper budgeting is necessary.

Your budget should not only include the price of the car: it is also important to consider the unavoidable running costs, which include state tax, car insurance, tires, maintenance, and fuel.

Choosing The Best Car For Your First Time

So you have a budget and know you have enough money to purchase a car and manage maintenance and running costs. It’s now time to look for the vehicle itself. You probably already have an idea of what features, brands, and models you want. The following tips will help narrow down your list a bit.

Go Through Everything

If you are purchasing a brand new car, there is not much to worry about since they come with a warranty. However, it can still be beneficial to survey the vehicle visually before driving off with it. The reason behind this is that if you find a ding or scratch after you are home, you will find it hard to prove that it was there before you bought it.

Buying a used car is a much different matter. You will either be purchasing from a private seller or a dealer. If you are purchasing from a car dealer, there will be some type of protection. On the other hand, buying privately relies solely on buyer beware. Keep in mind though that car dealers are not responsible for damages that might occur through misuse or accident.

When purchasing from a private seller, it’s necessary to keep in mind the following things:

Go through the paperwork. Move on if they are unable to provide documentation, there are mistakes in the documents, the vehicle’s registration is under a different name, or certain details do not match (for instance, the engine number or the vehicle color), etc.
Check the car’s mileage against service records and MOT test certificates.
Does the mileage make sense according to the look and age of the vehicle?
Does it have an even paint finish, or are their certain panels that seem different?
Does it have undamaged and functioning seatbelts?
Does it have a jack, spare tire, and the toolkit?
Are your wipers and washers functional?
Do the tires have adequate tread?
Does the dashboard show any fault lights?
Is there any rust under the vehicle or the footwell mats?
Check if the windows, internal AC controls, radio, locks, etc. are working properly.
Are all of the lights functioning?

Ride it

If the car’s condition is adequate, the next step is taking the vehicle for a ride. If the dealer or owner does not allow test drives, walk away. Make sure you start the test drive with a cold engine because a warmed engine makes it hard to spot problems. Things to check while driving the car include:

The clutch (if not automatic): Test the clutch’s biting point. If the clutch does not bite until it’s completely engaged, it’s probably worn and requires a replacement.
The brakes: Are the brakes responsive, or do they require too much pressure?
Performance: What does the vehicle behave like while accelerating? Keep your ears open for any weird vibrations or sounds as the car paces.
High-speed driving: Low speeds mask any problem there might be in the front area of a car, so take the car to a speed of over 60 mph at least once during the test drive.
Steering wheel: Does it vibrate while driving?
Gear shifts: Does shifting through the gears feel smooth?

How to Negotiate The Price

Keep in mind that a new car’s price is just as negotiable as that of a used car. Before purchasing, do some research to get a general idea of how much the car should cost. This should be done for both used and new vehicles. Use the information to come up with a starting price.

For a second-hand vehicle, always go in with a lower price. However, avoid going unreasonably low, or your seller might refuse to bargain.
If you find any minor problems while checking or test driving the car, use them to your advantage to keep the vehicle’s price down. You can sort these issues yourself after you get the car for a reasonable price.
Remember that you can walk away if you and the dealer are unable to strike a deal. You should not pay more than what a car deserves.

Taxes and Insurance

Keep in mind that tax and insurance will make up a significant part of your car’s running costs. It would be beneficial to get a vehicle that is not massively powerful as your first. While a sports vehicle might be tempting, the insurance for it is going to be very steep if you are under the age of 25 or have recently passed your driving test. Select a vehicle that is in a lower insurance group. Such cars also generally have a lower road tax, and some might even have zero.

Hopefully, this guide will be helpful while you search for the right car. Follow the tips mentioned in this, and you will surely end up with a problem-free first car. Check out our new, leased, or used deals at https://www.nutleykia.net/ or visit us at 66 Washington Avenue, Nutley, NJ 07110 and drive off with your new ride!