Choosing your first car can be an exciting yet stressful experience. For new drivers, it’s important to choose a car that’s safe and reliable, but it should also be easy to drive and provide you with all the features that you need and want from your new wheels. The good news is that there are plenty of car models that are ideal for first-time drivers. Whether you’re planning to use your car every day or just like the idea of having a vehicle there for if and when you need it, here are some of the main factors to keep in mind when you buy your first car.
#1. Insurance:
The cost of your car insurance is going to be one of the biggest things that you pay for second to the car itself. In fact, it’s not uncommon for many new drivers to find that if they have bought a cheap car, the insurance for the year will cost them more.
The good news is that by doing some research into the different insurance options before deciding on the car you’re going to buy, you’ll get a better idea of which makes and models are the cheapest to insure. Compare car insurance at quotezone.co.uk to find a company that suits your needs when it comes to cheap car insurance in the UK for new drivers. All you need is the registration number and you will receive instant quotes from over 100 providers.
There are several strategies you can use to help drive the cost of your quote down. For example, you can add a parent, older sibling or more experienced friend as a named driver on your insurance, or avoid taking the car to work as social only driving tends to be cheaper.
#2. Safety:
Another factor that you are likely to be concerned about when purchasing your first car is just how safe the make and model is. It can be tempting to buy a cheap, older second-hand car just so that you can get used to the road in it before eventually upgrading, but this might not always be the wisest decision. As a new driver, you’re at a higher risk of being involved in accidents and collisions, so the safer the vehicle you are driving, the better. The best way to determine the safety level of a certain car is to check the NCAP rating, which you can do easily online. And, don’t forget about additional steps you can take to make your car safer such as having a dash-cam installed.
#3. Additional Costs:
You’ve probably thought about setting a budget for buying the car itself and insuring it, but have you thought about all the other additional costs that come with car ownership? Many new drivers don’t realise just how much they will be required to pay for, and some of the responsibilities can come as shock. For example, don’t forget car tax – unless you’ve managed to get your hands on a model that is exempt, you’ll need to tax your car by either paying the yearly fee in one go or setting up a direct debit to pay monthly, quarterly or bi-annually. You’ll also need to think about the cost of putting your car in for a yearly MOT test and any repairs that this may incur. And finally, consider the cost of putting fuel in your car and minor maintenance such as new windscreen wipers and screen wash, oil changes, car washes and more.
#4. Anti-Theft:
For many drivers, the worst thing that could happen is to go outside ready to head somewhere and find out that their car is gone. However, car theft is becoming increasingly common these days as thieves get savvier and savvier. Keyless entry cars, for example, may be really modern and convenient, but it’s easier than ever for criminals to gain access to them using various devices. So, it’s important that you consider anti-theft devices when buying your first car – a GPS tracking device in the car, for example, can be ideal as this allows you and the police to easily track your car in the event of it being stolen. You may also want to consider additional devices to the ones already built into your car, such as a wheel lock, and if you have keyless entry, consider getting a specialised wallet to block the key when you’re at home.
#5. Size:
Last but certainly not least, it’s worth considering the physical size of the car that you are going to get for your first vehicle. This will largely depend on what you are going to need the car for, but it’s also worth considering that larger, five-door cars can sometimes be cheaper to insure than smaller models, due to lower statistics when it comes to involvement in accidents. However, your best option is to go for a car with a smaller engine as these are usually less powerful and, as a result, cheaper to insure and run.
Which first car models do you have your eye on? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.