The average first age to buy a car is twenty-one years old. Whether you’re buying earlier, right on time, or a little later, it might be a daunting thing to do — after all, it’s the first time you’ve done this, and you may not be sure how!
You can ask the advice of a friend or family member who’s been through the process before, but it’s also important to do your own research.
Here’s how to buy your first car.
Decide Your Budget
You should decide your budget for a car before you go and start looking at them. Although your dream car might be a Tesla, very few people can afford one for their first car!
Be realistic. Calculate how much you can spend outright if you’re going to pay cash, or how much you’re willing to pay a month. Do your research to understand more about loans and equity so you can make the right decision.
Narrow Down Cars
Once you’ve decided on a budget, you can narrow down the kind of car you want.
Consider how much you’d drive the car and where you’d be going. It’s important to pick a car that you love the appearance of, but also one that’s suitable for the life you live.
Look at Dealers and Listings
Once you’ve decided on a style of car and a budget, you can start looking at dealers and listings.
Always be careful, and check people out thoroughly — especially if it’s a private seller. Know that dealerships will often hide things on used cars and check out the reviews of the place before you go.
Taking someone experienced with you is a good idea. Not only will they know what to ask, but they can also co-sign with you if your credit score isn’t great yet.
Test Drive
Once you have an idea of the car you want, you should test drive it! Never buy a car without test driving for two reasons.
The first is that you can check if there are any immediate faults with the car or lights on the dashboard.
The second is that you need to make sure you’ll be comfortable driving it.
Get Insurance
After you’ve done that, all that’s left to do is sign the papers!
You’ll have to get insurance and might have to call the insurance company from the dealership to set that up if you signed on your own, as most people — rightly — won’t let you drive off the property without the necessary insurance. Have the VIN ready for when they ask.
Now You Know How to Buy Your First Car!
Now you know how to buy your first car, you can go out there with confidence and find one! Be realistic about your budget, pick a car you can see yourself with for many years, and ask for the advice and company of someone more experienced than you.
As long as you do your research, you’ll make a great choice.
For more car advice and repair tips, check out the rest of our blog.