If you’re considering buying your first car, you’re not alone! The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has inspired more and more people to get their own set of wheels and take a break from public transport. Sure, public transport is great. It’s better for the environment and often cheaper. But when you have your own vehicle, you can travel independently and avoid contact with strangers. You also gain a whole lot of freedom and flexibility. You can travel when you want without having to rely on public transport timetables. You can head from your own front door directly to your destination without having to switch transport options, wait at stops or walk extra distances at the start or end of your journey. You’ll also be able to carry more luggage with you, as you don’t have to physically carry what you’re taking where you’re going all at once. Now, choosing a car is a big decision. This is likely to be the biggest financial investment you make in your life after your home. So, you’re going to want to get things right the first time around. Here are some steps that can help you to make the right decision.
Budget
The first step you need to take before even considering buying any car is creating a budget. You’re going to have to figure out what you can reasonably afford to spend on your car. Whether that’s buying your own car outright or arranging financing on your vehicle to pay for it in smaller, monthly installments. Living by a budget is essential to ensure that you don’t fall into debt and begin to struggle. Creating a budget will let you know your total income after tax, other necessary payments, and essential outgoings (like rent or mortgage payments, energy, water, food, and outstanding debts). You will then be left with your disposable income and you need to determine what kind of car that will cover. Don’t make the mistake of looking at the overall or monthly price of a car and basing your decision on that alone. You also need to take other considerations into account, such as finding out how much road tax you’ll need to pay for the car, compare insurance underwriters to see how much your insurance will be, determine how much fuel you’ll need, and ensuring that you have enough money aside for repairs, cleaning and other occasional costs. Be reasonable with your budget and then you can start looking into which cars fall within your affordability bracket.
Choosing a Make and Model
Choosing a make and model of vehicle can be more complex than you’d originally imagine. All too many people base their decision on how a car looks. But you do need to take other factors into account. You need to decide how many seats you need – people with kids or friends to transport will need more. You can focus on car safety features. You can choose between electric models, hybrid models, and standard models. You might want particular additional features such as a sunroof, soft top, or heated seats. You may need a larger vehicle for more storage and boot space.
Once you’ve looked into the two areas above, choosing the right car to suit your needs should be that little bit easier. Good luck!
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