Your first car is closer than you think

Buying your first car is a special time. It signifies your new independence, no matter what age you are. Similarly, it shows you have an incredibly useful life skill in your pocket, and that’s going to be applicable everywhere you go. But being able to afford your first car after months and months of paying for lessons and tests is hard, and there’s a good chance you’re not in a position to buy right now. Even deciding on what vehicle to invest in is quite the decision, but to get there, it feels like you’re going to have to save up more money than you can manage. But don’t worry, this isn’t as hard as it first sounds.

So if you’re someone who’s just passed their driving test, first of all, congratulations! Second of all, it’s time to get you on the road with your own four wheels and a suspension your driving instructor’s car never quite had. And here’s some tips for making sure those wheels are yours within the month.

Look into a loan

How much do you want to spend on your first car? Probably not enough to buy one of the new, high-end models, but you don’t want to go 10 years deep in the used car lot either. So establish a budget that you know you’re going to be able to cover repayments of for about three years, and then look for a loan to cover this.

Don’t worry, more people than you think resort to this, and it’s entirely manageable considering the new interest rates on the market. Head to sites like auto.loan for some good examples of the kind of loan you could very well afford; when you’re getting a reliable mode of transport out of the deal, it’s worth it.

Find the right car, and don’t rush

Even though you want to get on the road immediately, there’s absolutely no rush here for deciding the model, color, and make of your first car. You’re going to want to find a trustworthy dealership here first of all, and these can be both public and private sources. Once you’ve found your dealership, head along and try to bring a friend who knows what’s what with you.

You’re going to want to make sure the car you go for is in the condition the dealer promised you, so take them up on the offer of a test drive. If they don’t offer this, make sure you ask before laying down any money. It’s your first car and you don’t have the money to spare here, make sure you’re getting what you pay for by not rushing excitedly into this decision. You can also get a mechanic to check over the car before you buy it, which can usually be booked online or with your local repair place.

Your first car is almost yours! It’s an exciting time to be in, so make sure you buy properly to keep the experience perfect in your mind.

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