Buying your first car may be one of the biggest purchases that you will have made up until this point. So it's important to make sure that you do your research and make an informed decision when you buy your first car. Today I'm sharing what to look out for when buying a car now. Compared to what I would previously have focused on, as part of the ATS Euromaster I Wish I Knew Campaign. So here's what to consider when buying your first car;
When I was learning to drive aged sixteen, all me and my friends were interested in was which pastel colour we could choose to get our first car in. Thankfully my Dad has worked in the car industry his entire adult life, both as a mechanic and a breakdown technician, which meant that I didn't go in totally blind when looking at cars. This meant that he did his best to steer me away from the brand new Fiat 500s. And instead, to take a lot more into consideration. This is where the importance of car servicing and other key details come into play.
What to think about
There are a few important details to iron out before you even start thinking about buying a new car. These would be working out your finances and what you can comfortably afford. Especially with the rising fuel prices at the moment. Another would be making sure to shop around and not just buy a car brand new. For us, this was even more important than going out with a specific make or model or even colour that you'd be coveting in mind.
Then there are checks and considerations that you can make when you actually go to look at cars in person. Find out how many owners the car has had, check the MOT history and log book. Also, generally keep an eye out to make sure that the car has been cared for and maintained well.
Checking the tyres, brakes and oil to make sure they are operating as they should be is particularly important. And this is something that you'll want to keep up when you go on to own your first car. Regularly booking your car in to be serviced and making sure that the car is ultimately safe to drive is obviously incredibly important.
You'll also want to find out how many miles per gallon the car can achieve. As well as how much it will cost to insure it. Then you'll want to check how much the road tax is too.
So those are my top tips (and my Dad's) for what to consider when buying your first car. Doing a bit of research or due diligence before you sign on the dotted line to buy your first car should have you set up with a car that you will be able to rely on for many years to come.
Have you bought your own car? If so, what did you prioritise when buying?
This post is a collaboration with ATS Euromaster, but all thoughts and experiences are my own
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