Buying your first car is a big milestone and it
gives you so much more freedom. You don’t need to rely on public transport to
get around anymore and you can easily just jump in the car and drive somewhere
fun if you’re bored at the weekend and looking for something to do. But buying a car is a big purchase and if you don’t pick
well, you’ll waste a lot of money and you’ll be stuck with a terrible car, so
you need to think carefully about it before you part with your money. If you’re
about to buy your first car, these are some of the most important things you
should know.
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Avoid Leasing
When you go to a car dealership, the salespeople
are going to try to get you to spend more money than you need to. They’ll show
you cars that are way out of your price range and tell you that leasing one is a
better option than buying one. A lot of people go for a lease because it does
seem better on the face of it as the monthly payments tend to be cheaper than
buying. However, you still have to pay for repairs and you may be charged extra
if you exceed the mileage limits. You also don’t have anything to show for it
when you finish the lease because you don’t get to keep the car. You’re much
better off saving the money up and buying the car outright or getting it on finance.
Don’t Forget The Running Costs
It’s important that you budget properly when you’re
buying a car, but a lot of people only consider the cost of the car itself and
forget about the running costs. You might get a good deal on the actual car but
if it costs you a lot of money for fuel and insurance etc. you’ll struggle to
afford to use the car. It’s important that you check some prices for insurance
(https://budgetboost.co/best-car-insurance-comparison/ has some good tips on comparing them) before you pick the
car so you can find one that doesn’t have excessive insurance costs. You also
need to look at the fuel consumption of the car because if it isn’t very
economical, you’ll be spending a lot of money each month to keep it running.
It’s important to factor in these running costs and sometimes, it’s better to
spend more money on a car that is cheaper to run.
Get The Car Inspected
If you’re buying a used car, it’s important that
you check it over thoroughly before you agree to buy it. If you don’t, you could end up
buying a car that has all sorts of expensive problems with it. It’s not likely
that you’ll spot these problems when checking the car for yourself because
you’re not a trained professional so it’s best to have a mechanic look at the
car before you sign anything.
You need to remember these things when you’re
buying your first car to make sure that you get a good deal on it.
