Tips On Buying Your First Car
You never forget your first car. Even if it’s a clapped out old banger, you will remember it fondly for the rest of your life. It’s your first taste of real freedom. Choosing your first car can be a minefield. There’s so much to consider, what type of car, safety ratings, finance options. It can be very confusing.
Set A Realistic Budget
Try and resist the urge to go straight out and look for a car. You’ll likely fall in love with something you can’t afford. So, before you begin, take a look at your finances, factor in additional costs such as fuel, road tax and insurance.
Once you have your budget, you’ll be able to narrow down what you’re looking for pretty quickly. Some car websites such as Calder Motor Company allow you to search based on your monthly payment amount. If you’re planning on going to a car showroom, letting the salesperson know what you have to spend in advance can save you both a lot of time.
Don’t be afraid to haggle either, you could get an even better deal, the worst they can say is no.
Smart Ways To Lower Your Insurance Premium
If you’re under 25 and have only recently passed your test, then your insurance premiums are going to be eye-watering expensive. The average 20-year-old pays £851 annually for their insurance.
Adding an experienced, older driver to your car insurance policy, such as one of your parents, could reduce the cost of your policy. Don’t be tempted to put the policy in someone else’s name to cut costs, this is illegal.
Buying a car in a lower insurance group will reduce your premiums.
Consider a black-box policy – some insurers will offer lower premiums if you voluntarily install a telematics box in your car. This monitors your driving and rewards you for driving safely.
Take a Pass Plus Course after you’ve passed your driving test. This will expose you to different driving situations (such as motorway or night driving) and many insurers will reduce their premiums if you have taken the course.
Pay your policy annually. You will avoid interest charges if you pay in one go rather than monthly.
Make Extra Checks If You Are Buying Privately
If you are buying a second-hand car from a dealer, then you are automatically protected by law to ensure that the car is legal and fit for purpose.
Buying from a private seller can be riskier but if you take some precautions and checks then you should still be able to get yourself a bargain.
- Check that all of the paperwork is in order. If there isn’t any paperwork or the details don’t match up, then don’t take any risks.
- Check that there is no outstanding finance on the car. You can do this almost instantly on the internet for less than £10 which is a small amount to pay not to get saddled with someone else’s debt.
- Is the mileage too good to be true? An old car with very low mileage should be ringing alarm bells
- Look over the paintwork and under the bonnet to spot any signs of welds or rust
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