Buying your first car is an exciting time, but it’s important to get the right vehicle for you. Your first car will most likely be one of the most expensive items you have bought to date, so you need to find a vehicle that suits you and your circumstances. We’ve put together some tips to help you when buying your first car so you can get on the road in no time.

Be realistic about your monthly budget

If you’re thinking about paying for your car in monthly instalments, it’s important to be realistic about your budget.

If, like many drivers, you are going to be purchasing your first car on finance, don’t be tempted to go for something you can’t afford just because it looks more modern. Buying something with finance is a big commitment, and you’re probably going to be paying it off for 12 months or longer.

Remember, it’s not just the car you’ll be paying for; you’ll also be paying out for all the expenses that come with owning a car. These include:

• Petrol/diesel
• Tax and MOT
• Repairs
• Insurance
• Car washes
• Parking fees

Where will you be driving?

When choosing your first car, consider where you will actually be driving. For example, if you do a lot of inner-city driving or drive in heavily congested areas, you’ll probably be more suited to a smaller hatchback vehicle.

However, if you live in the country and will be driving mainly on country roads, you will probably be more suited to a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Take a test drive

You can research online until you’re blue in the face, but nothing will give you a better feel of the car than actually getting behind the wheel and taking it for a spin.

A test drive should take at least half an hour so that you can get a good idea of how the car drives and, just as importantly, whether or not it suits you.

Do your research on insurance premiums

When looking for car insurance, don’t be afraid to shop around. Just because an insurance company is well-known does not necessarily mean that it will be the cheapest.

Here are some tips for shopping for car insurance:

• Don’t assume that third-party coverage will be the cheapest. In fact, sometimes, a comprehensive policy can work out cheaper.
• Don’t be tempted to make changes or modify your car, this will only make your insurance more expensive.
• Always be honest on your insurance forms. Failure to do so could result in your insurance being deemed invalid, and you could even face a criminal conviction.

Please visit our dedicated website page for more information on our young driver insurance.