In life, there’s nothing more exciting than buying your first car. Finally, you get to say “Bye!” to public transport and experience total independence out on the road. Of course, there are thousands of car models to choose from, which can make buying your first car a complicated process. Not to mention, there’s insurance, road tax, and various other factors to consider, too. But, despite all this, buying your first car is a fun experience providing you don’t let yourself become overwhelmed! All you need to do is sit back, relax, and read through this guide carefully. It will provide you with some useful tips and hints on how to successfully buy your first car.
Find a reliable car dealer
The most important part of your car purchasing journey is to find a reliable and trusted dealer. This way, you won’t experience any funny business and can breathe easy knowing that you’re in good hands.
High-quality car dealerships will offer a range of expertly cared for vehicles that you can compare and test drive to your heart’s content. It’s recommended that you check out this car dealers in Essex. They have an incredible selection of cars, from Range Rovers to BMWs and Audis – all at affordable prices. You can’t get better than that! Plus, they have an expert customer service team to guide you throughout the process.
Get answers to your questions and queries online
As you probably know, the world is full of car fanatics. From the U.S. to Asia, there are men and women – young and old – who are obsessed with cars. It’s an incredible community to be a part of (and this community is growing every day largely thanks to Elon Musk). Therefore, it’s a smart idea to join in and engage with this community online. For example, Reddit has the insanely popular subreddit ‘r/Cars’ which is designed ‘for car enthusiasts’. Also, there’s the subreddit ‘r/UsedCars’ where you can get pro advice from members of the community about any used cars you’re thinking about buying. You could make a post and ask other users whether they think your desired car is worthy of its asking price – they’ll be happy to help you.
In addition to all of that, Twitter and Facebook have lots of pages and accounts dedicated to cars where you can educate yourself and become a car expert. The knowledge you take on board will be vital when it comes to purchasing your first car.
Check the mileage
Some cars are available for cheap because they have insanely high mileage counts. Although this can be tempting, in the long term, it’s a big risk to take. For example, if you buy a used car that’s clocked 300,000 miles with its previous owners, there’s a high chance that there’s simply too much wear and tear. Sooner than you know it, the car will break down and you’ll be faced with hefty repair bills! Therefore, when buying your first car, try to avoid high mileage counts. More often than not, they’re a recipe for disaster.
Explore your finance and funding options
The most stressful part about buying your first car is – you guessed it – money. Cars aren’t cheap, so you need to carefully plan your finances so that you don’t get yourself into a mess.
Lots of people get financial support from their family (namely, Mom and Dad) but they can also get loans and even finance options from the car dealerships themselves. For example, some dealerships won’t demand that you pay a lump sum upfront – instead, they might allow you to pay monthly (and if you’re lucky, they won’t include any interest in the deal).
So, before you shake hands with any car center or dealership, make sure your finances are in order first!
Buy a car based off practicality – not just the brand name and visuals
Cars are often used as a status symbol. There’s nothing wrong with this, but you should be focused on a car’s practicality – not the way it looks – when you’re buying your first car.
For example, if you have a large family, you might need a 4×4 SUV – you get the idea. Remember, it’s only your first car. In the future, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to invest in more luxury options.
