5 Top Tips For First-Time Car Buyers

Buying your first car is a wonderful experience. You are finally free to explore the world. Well, the local motorways, at least! It gives you a certain sense of freedom and making plans becomes a lot easier. But, buying a car is also a daunting experience. Visiting the dealership, negotiating the price, and choosing the right car are all tricky. Even experienced car buyers still struggle with the process. The trick is to stay calm, take your time, and do your research. In this post, we’ll count down our expert tips for first-time car buyers. Buying your first car Research You should never enter the dealership before you know exactly what you’re looking for. Scour automotive blogs, read reviews and pick up magazines. Speak to your friends and family that understand cars and find out what’s out there. The trick is to know a good deal when you see one. Narrow your search down to just a few cars with some tactical researching. Look at fuel economy, engine options, and safety ratings before you make a decision. Research Look for a hatchback If you’re not sure where to start, let us suggest the hatchback market. These are all-around great performers. They’re small, but with enough oomph to handle the motorway speeds. They’re economical, but fun. Small, but practical. Best of all, they’re relatively cheap to buy and run. Good examples are the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo. It is the one car I want! Consider running costs Hopefully, you’ve already drawn up a budget. It will probably include the cost of the car and factor in any monthly loan repayments. However, don’t forget about the running costs. They add up quicker than you’d imagine! We’re talking about fuel costs, insurance, tax, parking charges and maintenance. Take the time to work out your average monthly spend and make sure you can afford it. Consider running costs Buy second-hand For a first-timer, the second-hand market is the best place to find a decent car. You’re not looking to spend a fortune, but you want a reliable, safe motor. With that in mind, visit a used dealer like Motorline Direct and search for two or three-year-old vehicles. They’ll cost a fraction of the price of their brand new counterparts. Plus, they’ll still hold their reliability and should run smoothly. Learn some basic maintenance All car owners should know a little about how their car works. In order to function smoothly, some basic self-maintenance is in order. We’re talking about checking the oil and coolant once every two weeks. Learn how to check the pressure in your tyres and look for rust on the chassis. These checks will keep your car out of the garage for longer, saving you money on expensive repairs. You’ll also extend the life of the car and bring your fuel costs down. If you don’t feel confident, ask someone to teach you the basics; it’s easy when you know how! And so we come to the end of our list! First-time car buyers, we hope you’ve found some useful information here. Be sure to let us know how it goes, and good luck with your new car!