If you’re all ready to buy your first car, choosing the right car for you, going to test drive it, and finally handing over the cash or getting finance and driving away for the first time behind your own wheel can definitely be a very exciting experience.
But with so many different cars available and lots of information and specs that you might be totally unfamiliar with as a new driver, it’s no surprise that the process can get very confusing. So, with that in mind, we’ve got some top tips to help you choose your first car.
Get a Used Car
Let’s face it – you’re a new driver, and most people who are brand new to driving are bound to drive into some kerbs or accidentally scrape their car a couple of times in the first few months of driving as they get used to the roads and manoeuvring their car.
The last thing that you want is to have a brand new car that you are always feeling worried about. Along with that, brand new cars are ridiculously expensive compared to used, since they can lose around 30% of their value as soon as you drive them out of the showroom.
The good news is that if you want a new-ish car for your first car, there are plenty of great used options available that you can get for a steal. Check out Hilton Garage, a car dealer in Burton on Trent, to see what’s listed.
Prioritise Safety
When buying your first car, it’s not just important to consider how it looks and how you feel when driving it – but also how safe it is. Check out safety ratings for different cars and go with one that performs highly – even if that means relegating your favourite model to the end of the list, it’s worth it.
Not only does having a safer car actually keep you safe on the road as you navigate being new to driving, but it will also be much cheaper to insure – something that is essential for most new drivers since the price of insurance can be astronomical when you’ve just gotten your license.
Look for Low CO2 Emissions
You’ve probably heard news about the new clean air zones that are popping up around the UK, and while the fees will only payable by commercial vehicles that don’t meet the conditions at first, chances are that in the future, anybody who owns a highly polluting car is going to need to pay something for the privilege of chugging all that pollution out onto the roads.
A car with low CO2 emissions is not only a good buy because it’s better for the planet, but it will also be cheaper to tax – some low-emissions cars can be taxed for a little as £20 per year, while others don’t even require you to pay. It’s worth considering an electric or hybrid car if it’s in your budget, since these tend to be completely exempt from any emissions-related charges.
Buying your first car can be an exciting experience, but before choosing the perfect car for you, be sure to keep these factors in mind.
