If you’ve just passed your driving test, then congratulations are in order! Buying your first car is a really exciting time but it can also feel like a bit of a minefield. Before you start getting carried away with car buying, there are a few considerations you can think about to make the buying process easier. Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases you will make in life so it’s essential you get off to a great start!
How much should you spend on your first car?
The first factor to look at is if you can actually afford to get a car. We’ll not beat around the bush; the price of cars is constantly on the rise, and they don’t seem to be going down any time soon. However, there are now more ways to spread the cost. Your budget for a car should never leave you short and if you’re buying with finance, you should not spend any more than 20% of your monthly income on car payments.
Compare insurance quotes on different cars within your budget.
Before you commit to getting the car you want, it can be worth checking car insurance rates first. Car insurance rates in your first year are some of the highest as you are more likely to be involved in an accident due to inexperience. Car insurance rates can differ by personal circumstances but also by make and model so in order to keep costs low, it can be a good idea to compare different models to see what is affordable for you.
Should you buy with cash or finance?
Buying a car with cash will always be the most cost-effective way to purchase a vehicle. There’s no interest to pay and you can have more negotiation power when you buy. It also means you aren’t restricted to a dealer and can buy from a private seller. Financing a car is a great way to spread the cost of ownership and usually means you can get a newer, better car than you would with cash alone. It can be harder to obtain finance at bad or no credit car dealers as you may have had problems in the past with meeting repayments on time. If you have a lack of credit history or a low credit score it can be worth increasing your credit or getting a small amount of credit in your name first to prove your credit worthiness.
Factor running costs into your budget.
Not only will you need to consider how much your finance would cost a month and your car insurance rates but you will also need to think about how much your car will cost to run. The day to day running costs of owning a car can include refuelling with petrol or diesel or recharging an electric or hybrid vehicle. You will also need to keep up with annual MOTs and servicing and it’s a good idea to have some money to put aside for any unexpected repair costs.
Check the reliability and safety ratings of different cars.
It’s important the car you buy is safe and reliable and you can check the safety rating of different cars for extra peace of mind. The Euro NCAP is an official car assessment programme which test cars in different situations and gives them a rating out of 5 stars. You can then also explore the safety features of different models too. You can also check customer reviews and owner satisfaction reviews of different cars to see how reliable they are. A car which is prone to accidents or repair work will set you back.
