Buying a new car is a really exciting time! If you’re buying your first car or you’re not sure what to get next, our guide below looks at the top questions to ask yourself before you start shopping around. By whittling down your options and thinking about what you need from your next car, you can make the buying process much easier! Before financing or buying a car outright, you should make sure it’s a sensible financial decision for your situation and that the car is fit for purpose, if not, it could end up costing you in the long run.
Know how much you can afford
Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases you could make in your life so it’s important it’s a sensible choice. Your budget for a car may be one cash lump sum or monthly installments for finance but whatever it is, it should always be affordable. Knowing what you can afford can make it easier to shop for cars in your budget and improve the buying journey.
Consider both new and used cars
Your budget could be the main factor in deciding if you get a new or used car. If you’re buying with cash alone, brand-new cars may be out of reach, and you may be better suited to an affordable used car. Brand-new cars can be financed, and it can be worth exploring different makes and models. From VW finance to Ford finance deals, the availability of new cars on finance may seem endless! It can be worth checking your credit if you wish to go down the finance route though as a brand-new car may not be available if you have a low credit score.
Think about how often and far you drive.
The type of car you buy next will need to be fit for purpose. This can include thinking about how many miles you cover each day, the type of roads you drive on, and how often you drive. If you tend to only cover short distances, drivers could be better suited to city cars or small electric cars which have low running costs. Typically, longer distances and motorway driving are the expertise of estate cars, diesel cars, and even some economical SUVs.
Choose a suitable fuel type
Traditionally, drivers had two options when it came to fuel types and they were easily split into diesel cars for long journeys and petrol cars for shorter journeys. However, drivers can now be spoilt for choice, and advancements in recent years mean even some small petrol cars can provide high MPG. Drivers can now choose a more economical engine such as a hybrid or fully electric vehicle to help reduce their fuel consumption and produce less harmful emissions.
Set space and seating requirements
If you don’t yet have a family or rarely carry any passengers on board, buying a large car but just cost you money. Considering how often you drive with others in the car and how much space you need for luggage or equipment can help you choose a size that’s right for you when buying a car. For some larger families, they may be more restricted and only suited to 7-seaters or adaptable seating options.
Test drive cars you like
Once you’ve found the type of car you like for your needs and budget, it’s time to get test driving! It’s always recommended to take test drives of different cars as they may be perfect on paper, but you may find you struggle with how it drives, or you aren’t comfortable in the driver’s seat. Another great tip is to take your time on the test drive and get a feel for the car you could be buying. Don’t be afraid to take as long as you need to decide, and you should never feel rushed by the seller.
