You’ve decided. You’re getting your first car. Now what?
The precarious step into adulthood of car shopping can be an overwhelming experience with all the makes, models, and prices. Knowing what you’re looking for and what works best for you can make the process as seamless as possible, leaving you with more planning for price negotiations!
Keep reading for tips on how to choose a car without any regrets for your first time!
The First Important Step of How to Choose a Car
There are many first time car buyer mistakes you can make. But the most important one when it comes to how to choose a car is not taking into account your needs.
When we’re talking about needs, we really mean what you need to get you from point A to point B regularly. This doesn’t mean owning the coolest looking vehicle to impress your friends, that’s a want, so keep your needs list realistic.
Do you need an SUV for carting around your family and pets? Maybe a sedan will do the trick instead? Making a list for yourself for what you will be using your car for will help narrow down options.
Look at Your Surroundings
The next thing you’ll need to do once you’ve completed your needs list is taking a look at your surroundings. Geographically of course.
Do you live in the city core? Suburbs? Maybe you’re in the country? This will help you with how to choose a car.
For example, if you’re living in the city core, usually parking spots are small and consist of a lot of street parking.
In these instances, a 4×4 truck may not be the more practical option for you and end up being more of a burden than anything else.
Choosing to Lease, Buy, or Finance
Next on the car buying guide is determining whether you’d like to lease, buy, or finance.
These options have their pros and cons and it’s important to do your search before signing your name on the dotted line. For some people who drive a lot, leasing may not be an option as the kilometers are capped at a certain amount. You will need to spend time deciding this option.
Determining Your Budget
Last but not least of our car buying tips is your budget.
Car shopping can get expensive pretty quickly if you don’t set a limit for yourself. Setting a car budget that includes the costs of insurance, gas, maintenance, and monthly car payments if you have them will help keep you off the slippery slope of car debt.
Your car shouldn’t be leaving you with only enough money to buy instant noodles for dinner.
Go Get Your Car!
Once you’ve determined the answers to all of our car buying tips, you should be able to breeze through how to choose a car when you start shopping. Congratulations on selecting your new set of wheels and drive safely!
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