Buying your first car is an important milestone in your life. It’s an adult purchase, but there’s one big problem: buying a car doesn’t come with a textbook that guides you through the process. If you need a little help, then you’ve come to the right place.
How to choose your first car? When you’re planning to buy your first car, you should start with a few key metrics. You’ll want a vehicle that’s low-cost, safe, reliable, easy to drive, and underpowered. You might consider buying a truck or SUV or buying a manual transmission car. Whatever you end up getting, remember that this isn’t the last car you’ll ever own, and you can splurge on it in the future for better styling and a more luxurious car.
What should I pay attention to when buying my first car? For your convenience, I’ve put together 20 top tips for you to consider to help you choose and buy your first car. Let’s get started.
Why the first car is important
Your first car will become a staple of your high school and college years. You will look back on the car fondly and make a lot of memories around this car.
In addition to the emotional connection, there is a whole set of dependencies associated with owning a car. You can now drive anywhere you want (obviously, as long as your parents sign off).
Want to eat some McDonald’s? It’s easy to have a car. You can get a part-time job and hang out with your friends more.
The only problem is that you are a new driver. Due to the lack of experience, there is a need for safer, more reliable and stronger products. If you buy a car that will keep you safe, your parents will feel much better when they buy it.
Buying your first car is no different from buying your tenth. That’s why this list of tips is so important.
20 tips for choosing your first car
How to choose your first car? Without further ado, let’s talk about some tips for choosing your first car. Understanding and applying these tips should get you the perfect first car.
Find a used car
My biggest piece of advice is to consider buying a used car. My friends and I mostly started with used cars.
If you don’t know, the car will quickly lose its value. A car is not an investment. As long as you’re driving, the value gets lower and lower.
When you buy a new car, this price drops even steeper. The decline can be as high as 50% in the first few years. This means that you will spend $20,000 on a car worth $10,000.
There are a few exceptions, but these are not good first car options yet.
What I would say is that buying a used car means that you don’t lose a lot of money right away. Plus, they’re cheaper options and perfect for budgets.
Make a budget
What should I pay attention to when buying my first car? Before looking at a car, you should understand how much you are willing to pay for a car. For many first-time car buyers, your budget may only be a few thousand dollars.
After all, you only need something that will get you from point A to point B. Make sure you write down your budget number and keep referring to it as you walk around. Be firm with yourself – don’t go beyond that number.
See if your parents will help financially
Many parents are willing to help their children get their first car. If it means giving you some money, then they might be willing.
Don’t assume your parents will pay, you should have an open and honest conversation with them. Find out how much they’re willing to pay and build a budget based on that.
For my first car, my parents gave me how much money I could get together. We were halfway through the car and I walked away with my beloved $3,000.
If they can’t help cover the expenses, then lower your budget and consider financing the car and getting a loan.
Get a co-signer (possibly)
If you’re taking out a loan for your car, you may need a co-signer. Again, this could be one of your parents or guardians.
Co-signers basically put their credit on the line to help you. If someone is associated with someone with good credit, the person who borrowed the money is more willing to give the loan. If you don’t currently have a credit card or any debt in your name, you probably don’t have a credit score, let alone a good one.
You’ll need a co-signer if you:
- Buy a new car
- car rental
- The full cost of the used car is not paid upfront
Safety is key
For novice drivers, safety is a major feature of the car. A safer car will protect you on the road and keep you alive in the event of an accident.
This means that if your car is safe, the fender bender won’t get any worse. You can find safety information about your car online and learn more about brands like Subaru and Volvo.
Don’t forget about the cost of insurance
When you get car insurance, you will pay your bills every month. The insurance company will calculate how much you owe them based on the safety and price of your car. The cheaper and safer the car, the cheaper your insurance will be.
Once you have purchased a car, it is very important to purchase insurance before stepping into the car. If you get into an accident, insurance can protect you and help you avoid huge debts.
High fuel consumption is a plus
Another expense that is closely related to operating a car is refueling. How much gas a car consumes per mile it travels is estimated to be known as “EPA-estimated miles per gallon.”
If 30 mpg is displayed, it means you can travel 30 miles with 1 gallon of gas. The further you go, the less money you spend on gas.
It’s a good idea to choose a car with high fuel consumption. It allows you to waste less money on gas pumps.
If your budget allows, you can also consider buying a hybrid or electric vehicle.
Stick to low horsepower
How to choose your first car? Another number to look for on the spec sheet is horsepower. This will tell you how much power is hidden under the hood of your vehicle. High-horsepower cars allow you to run faster, accelerate faster, and get into more trouble.
Too much horsepower is always dangerous for newbies. You don’t know how your car will react, and you may accidentally press the accelerator too hard. This can lead to accidents.
Plus, there’s no reason to have a lot of horsepower in your first car. Unless you go straight to Daytona, you can survive with a car with less than 200 horsepower.
Also, in many states, speeding under the age of 18 is mandatory to appear in court and adds significant fines. Trust me, it’s not worth it.
Reliability in mind
What should I pay attention to when buying my first car? With an older, low-budget car, a lot of problems can arise. If you choose a brand that isn’t known for its reliability, it means you’ll break down a lot and go to the mechanic regularly.
I recommend finding a car with high reliability. Consumer Reports uses a wealth of data to aggregate the reliability ratings of each vehicle. Using this rating will help you choose a car that lasts longer. Also, be sure to use these tips to make your car more durable.
A more reliable car will start more often, waste less time and money, and move on.
Don’t squander on luxuries
For the first car, luxury is not important. It shouldn’t matter if you have a fancy sound system, leather upholstery, or huge rims.
All of these luxuries add to the final price, which means you have to prioritize your needs.
Have a list of “wants”.
In fact, it’s a good idea to put “want” and “need” together. What you want is something like exterior paint color. What is needed is the number of seats and the price of the car.
Referring to this list will help you avoid the pitfalls of someone selling you a car. When it comes to the first car, be honest about your desires and needs. After all, you’ll have a lot of other vehicles in the future, and that’s just the beginning.
Consider a manual transmission
There are several great benefits to a car with a manual transmission. On the one hand, they are usually cheaper. In addition, they will teach you how to drive a joystick, which is an important skill.
I’ve also found that manual transmissions force drivers to pay more attention to the road. This means that you won’t want to check your phone or look around the car while driving.
Take a test drive with the older co-pilot
When you find a car you like, you need to test drive it. I recommend bringing an older co-pilot, such as a sibling or parent.
They will know some of the big red flags to look for. For you, you need to make sure that you feel comfortable in the car and enjoy how it feels. I’ve put together a complete list of test drives and initial checks.
Know how to negotiate
A large part of the car buying process is negotiation with the dealer or seller. It is an art form that requires a lot of knowledge to succeed.
The short description is that the dealer is trying to get more money from you, so they will use a few different sales tactics to do so. Long answer? I’ve written a whole guide for this (read it here).
Don’t be blinded by excitement
Let me be the first to admit that buying your first car is very exciting. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be excited, I’m just saying you shouldn’t let your excitement guide your decisions.
Being blinded by excitement can lead you to buy a car that is too expensive, buy something that doesn’t meet your needs, or buy more cars than you need.
My suggestion? Be logical-oriented throughout the process, and then once you’ve completed the deal, get very excited and celebrate.
Find something that’s easy to drive
Since you’re a new driver, you’ll need something that’s easy to drive. A car with good drivability will have good steering response, strong braking, and good visibility.
If you live in a city or a busy suburb, it can help if the vehicle is small enough to get into a narrow parking space.
Once you’ve driven a few cars and done some test drives, the concept is easier to understand. If you haven’t gotten it yet, don’t worry.
Don’t indulge in colors and designs
I raised this earlier, but I want to reiterate it. If this is your first car, the car’s color scheme and design don’t matter. My first car was bright blue and absolutely dazzling. In my case, it gives it more personality.
When you put them together, try to exclude these features from your “Needs” list.
Maybe buy a truck or SUV
What should I pay attention to when buying my first car? If you want something super safe, consider getting a truck or SUV. Due to the added weight, height, and visibility, these two options are much safer than compact cars or sedans.
If you’re torn between a truck or an SUV, read my guide to solve the problem.
My first car (the pale blue one I was just talking about) was an old GMC Sierra – a truck. Learning how to drive a bigger car can make it easier for you to drive a smaller car in the future. You’ll appreciate the car’s smaller size and maneuverability when driving on the road.
Still, I have a lot of friends who are lifelong SUV or truck drivers. Everyone has their own preferences, and there are many pros and cons to each car.
Chevrolet Silverado 2004
Don’t compare your car to your friend’s car
It’s easy to see your friend’s brand new BMW and want to get the same car. The truth is, their needs and budgets can be very different from yours.
Make your own decisions and don’t make decisions based on how other kids are driving or how you want people to perceive you. In my opinion, for the first car, the old Civic was cooler than the new BMW.
Remember: it’s not forever
How to choose your first car? Finally, you have to remember that this is not the last car you will ever own. Choosing a car that doesn’t have the luxury, styling, or power you want won’t be a problem for your first car. After all, it’s just your first car.
When you have more money to spend on the car, any compromises you make for that car can be made up for in the future.
Choose the right first car
Are you happy to buy your first car? I’ve put together a list of great options for your first car. You can read the list here and find the best option for you.
Choosing the right first car ultimately comes down to combining your budget, wants, needs, and nearby used car inventory. From there, you’ll find a car that checks all the boxes on your list. Don’t forget to follow my 20 tips before shaking hands and signing documents.
Conclusion
I’ve just reviewed 20 top tips for choosing your first car. Hopefully, you’ll keep these in mind when you start shopping. It’s an exciting time for you, and I hope you have fun with the new wheels. If you have more car questions, check out my blog. I also have some automotive products that you should definitely get along with your new car.
