Buying Your First Car

Image from Car & Vintage via Pinterest

I passed my driving test back in December (second time round with only four minors) and since then I've become a named driver on my dads car/insurance as it was the cheapest option but it's not ideal. We have been sharing the car which is an adorable but old Renault Clio that I love and find really easy to drive even though it has a very heavy clutch however I'd love my own car. I've been looking on and off for the past couple of months at cars but it's quite difficult to know what is good or not and there are so many factors that go into buying a car, especially your first car.

Price 

Obviously one of the first things to think about is your budget, not only for the car but insurance, how much road tax you'll have to pay, the MOT or an initial service or fees you might have to pay as well as breakdown cover. The price for most first time car buyers, like myself, isn't going to be huge and I don't think you'd want a luxe, expensive car initially as you may have passed your test but you still carry on learning. My dad has said from the beginning of my learning to drive that you learn to pass the test, then you learn how to drive and it's so true, especially when driving on your own.

Brand, Model & Style

Another important factor is the brand, model and style of the car you want; for example, do you want an automatic now rather than a manual? Do you want a more eco friendly car with few emissions and therefore less tax? Do you like one brand/model over another? Which brand is more reliable?

If I had the money, I'd definitely want a cute vintage Fiat 500 from the 50's/60's but they are a little pricy for a first car and if anything went wrong with it then I don't think parts would be cheap either but I can dream! There are a few articles out there about the best car for learners and for first time cars buyers and all of them are little practical cars like the Renault Clio. Research online, ask friends or family and find out what everyone thinks is the most reliable brand and model - personal recommendations and reviews are so useful!

Insurance Group & Road Tax

Different cars have different insurances prices based on engine size or other factors, for example, the Renault Clio I drive has a 'sport' engine so the insurance is more expensive if you're not a named driver. Look at the car you want or an approximation, get on some insurance comparison sites and compare the quotes - as with most things it's better to shop around!

For road tax, as of April 2017, there have been some changes and prices have risen *cries* so make sure you check! It's based on the cars carbon dioxide emissions and the list price so the more eco-friendly the better but that does usually raise the initial price of the car.

If you didn't want to or can't buy a car outright then you could do what I'm doing and share a car/be a named driver on a family members car if you can (although it's not a ideal option, your own insurance is better). Alternatively, a personal lease can be a cheap choice as it's kind of the car version of renting a house where you pay a certain amount per month for the car.

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*Image from Pinterest 

Do you drive? If so, what was your first car? What is your dream car?