Buying a car of your own for the first time is a massive step in the lives of many young (and sometimes not-so-young) people. However, it’s not as easy as flicking through a selection and choosing the one that looks the coolest, the way you might do on a video game. There are plenty of factors that come into play when picking the perfect car for you, and you must avoid the mistakes that too many people make.
How to Pay For It
Cars can be expensive, and we’re not just talking about the initial cost. After you’ve purchased your vehicle, you’ll need to pay for things like the MOT, repairs, road tax, petrol, and even make improvements to ensure it runs better.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options for paying for your car, such as Car Finance. This is useful if you’re on a tight budget but can afford a monthly payment, and you’ll also get the chance to decide if you want to keep the car at the end of the contract or get another one.
Do You Need It?
There is no point in purchasing a car just to have one. Sure, it’s convenient, and it means you’ll never need to take the bus ever again, but convenience and avoiding public transport are not the only reasons to buy.
Consider where you work as well as if you can even afford to run the car. Is it easy to walk to work, or will you need to travel up and down the country to meet clients? If this is the case, then a car is worth it, but this is unlikely to be the case for everybody.
Where To Buy It?
There are plenty of sources that can get you in a car immediately. When searching for a new car, you probably trawled through a range of used car sites as well as hovering your cursor over more than a few Facebook marketplace sales.
While these can be convenient, they are not always the way to go, and there are plenty of dealerships that can give you a good deal, even if it doesn’t seem that way.
When checking out vauxhall cars for sale from official showrooms, you can get a fantastic deal if you try to source your next set of wheels the month prior to new vehicles being registered. This crossover month can see dealerships trying to get rid of older stock for rock bottom prices.
Is the Source Trustworthy?
You’ve always got to think about how trustworthy the source is, which is why it’s probably a good idea to avoid social media marketplaces altogether. These won’t come with the same protections as dealerships.
However, even dealerships can try to rip you off, especially if they get a feeling you’re in over your head. Because of this, it’s essential to do your research and know precisely what you want before visiting. Also, if you need to take a friend or one of your parents for moral support and guidance, there’s nothing wrong with that either.
First Time
It might not be your first time driving, you likely shared your parents’ or siblings’ car when you passed your test, but getting a car you can call your own is a significant step in achieving the freedom and maturity you crave. Despite this, it’s always crucial to remember the basics no matter what you’re purchasing so you can ensure your car won’t fall apart the minute you drive away.
Photo by Oli Woodman on Unsplash
