How to Choose Your First Car?

Apart from property, it’s one of the most expensive purchases you are likely to make, so buying your first car requires forethought. Most important – after passing your test – is to decide exactly how much to spend. Remember, this is not just how much you can afford for the vehicle but the cost of keeping it roadworthy and legally compliant – tax, MOT, petrol, servicing, repairs and insurance.

Whilst it might be tempting to buy something sporty or high powered, this is never good practice for a first car. With zero no claims bonus, the more high powered and ‘desirable’ the car, the higher the insurance premium – particularly for younger drivers. It is also likely to cost more to run and the more whistles and bells it has, the more there is to potentially go wrong.

Before purchasing, check car reviews for a make and model’s reliability, availability of parts, performance, handling and the features you can expect as standard and those that will cost extra. As a first time buyer, a vehicle with extra safety features, e.g. airbags, roll bars and ABS, can be significantly cheaper to insure. Investigate engine size and fuel economy – diesel may be more expensive but gives considerably more miles per gallon.

When deciding where to buy, franchised dealers are considered reputable and offer quality new and used vehicles, with service history and warranties. However, prices are often higher than smaller, independent dealers. Bargain cars can be found at auction, but you have little legal protection thereafter, with vehicles ‘sold as seen.’. The same applies to buying privately, with no after sales service and no warranty.

Whoever you buy from, always check the service history. Take the car for a test drive, see how it handles and listen to the engine. Check all buttons and gadgets work, make sure the tyres are legally compliant and check under the bonnet. If your vehicle knowledge is not sufficient to be confident in doing this yourself, take someone experienced with you, or pay to have a safety inspection carried out.

Security checks, particularly if you buy privately, are advisable. There are a number of companies that can tell you if a car has been stolen or has unpaid finance outstanding. Ensure the seller has the correct documentation and that the Vehicle Identification Number on the papers matches that on the car.

If you’re buying new, recommended car purchases, for economy and reliability include the new Smart Fortwo, the Toyota Prius T3 and the Skoda Fabia. Many makers now also offer vehicles that are considered ‘green’ – including the new BMW 320 range and new Volkswagen Polo and Golf. New or used, compact cars, with smaller engines, proven fuel efficiency and an array of safety features are all top of the first time buyer list. Whatever your choice, cheap car sales has a wide range of high quality vehicles available, ideal for any first time buyer.

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This page was last updated
Wednesday, 25-Apr-2012

How to Choose Your First Car?