What Should I Consider When Choosing My First Car?

When choosing your first car, consider factors such as your budget, insurance costs, fuel efficiency, road tax, and the car’s reliability. It’s also important to think about the type of driving you’ll be doing, whether city commuting or longer motorway journeys.

Should I Buy A New Or Used Car?

For many first-time buyers, a used car is more affordable and offers better value for money. However, a new car may come with added benefits like a manufacturer’s warranty, modern safety features, and lower maintenance costs in the first few years.

What Is The Importance Of Checking The Car’s MOT And Service History?

It’s important to check the car’s MOT and service history to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and has been properly maintained. This can reveal potential issues and give you an idea of future maintenance costs. You can check a car's MOT history online using the DVLA's service.

What Questions Should I Ask About The Car's Running Costs?

Ask about the car’s fuel efficiency (miles per gallon), insurance group, road tax, and typical maintenance costs. These factors will have a big impact on the affordability of running the car in the long term.

What Type Of Insurance Do I Need For My First Car?

For your first car, you’ll need at least third-party insurance, which is the legal minimum in the UK. However, comprehensive insurance offers greater protection as it covers damage to your vehicle as well. Young or new drivers may find insurance costs higher, so it’s important to compare policies and consider options like black box insurance to reduce costs.

How Can I Check If The Car Has Outstanding Finance Or Has Been Written Off?

You can check if a car has outstanding finance or has been written off by conducting an HPI check. This service will tell you if the vehicle has any unpaid finance agreements, has been in a major accident, or has been stolen.

What Should I Look For When Test Driving A Car?

During a test drive, check how the car handles, accelerates, and brakes. Listen for unusual noises and test features like the steering, clutch, gears and lights. Make sure you feel comfortable driving the car and that it suits your needs.

Should I Get A Mechanic To Inspect The Car Before Buying?

Yes, getting a mechanic to inspect a used car can help identify hidden issues that may not be immediately visible. This can save you from costly repairs down the line and provide peace of mind that the car is in good condition.

What Paperwork Should I Check Before Buying A Car?

Before buying a car, check the V5C logbook to verify the owner’s details, the car’s MOT certificate, and service history. Make sure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) matches the number on the logbook. If you’re buying from a dealer, check if a warranty is included.

8 Questions to Ask When Buying Your First Car

Buying your first car is an exciting and significant moment in your life.

That’s why it’s so important that you make the right choice and find the best first car for you.

Read on and find out the 8 questions you need to ask when buying your first car.

Page Contents

What Should I Look for When Buying My First Car?
How Much Should I Spend on My First Car?
Do I Need Insurance First?
Should I Buy My First Car on Finance?
Which Cars Are Safest for New Drivers?
How Should I Budget?
Should I Buy a Petrol, Diesel or Electric Car?
How Can I Save Money on My Car Insurance?

What Should I Look for When Buying My First Car?

When it comes to buying your first car, you should look for one that meets your style, comfort and reliability needs.

You can visit local dealerships or browse new and used vehicles online to find the right one for you.

Before you commit to a purchase, you should find out what you can about the vehicle, including the following:

MOT history
Age
Mileage
Service record
Any modifications
Any repair work

You should also find out about any features that may not be working correctly.

Once you have found this out, you should then take the vehicle for a test drive to assess the car's condition and comfort level.

You may also wish to check detailed safety ratings from organisations like Euro NCAP for the vehicle you are thinking to buy.

Keeping up to date with automotive trends can influence which car you should buy, as you'll be better equipped to choose a car that aligns with your preferences, budget, and future needs.

How Much Should I Spend on My First Car?

Buying and maintaining a car can be expensive – especially for young people. It is best to pick a car that reflects your budget, needs, and preferences.

If you are regularly driving on the motorway or covering long distances, then an efficient car with a large petrol or diesel engine might be best.

You could find such a car for under £10,000 in cash – or £200 a month on finance.

If you make fewer or shorter journeys in a week, then a smaller petrol hatchback might be better for you.

You could find such a used car for around £6,000 in cash – or £100 a month on finance.

Do I Need Insurance First?

Regardless of whether you buy from a dealership or a private seller, you will need insurance.

Your car must be insured before you drive it – even if the drive home from the dealership wouldn’t take long!

You can insure a new car before you pick it up by letting your insurer know when you need the cover to start.

You will need to provide them with your details ahead of time, including the registration and in some cases your logbook/V5C.

Alternatively, you can get temporary insurance which covers you from as little as an hour to a month.

With temporary insurance, you’ll be able to drive your new car home and arrange longer term insurance at a later date.

Should I Buy My First Car on Finance?

When deciding whether or not to buy your first car on finance, you should factor in the following:

Your budget
Interest rates
Depreciation
Your credit score
Ownership vs leasing
Your future plans

Though financing allows you to spread the cost out over time, you need to know that the monthly payments align with your budget.

You should also bear in the mind that financing allows you to eventually own the car once the loan has been paid off.

Leasing, on the other hand, means that you are basically renting the vehicle for a set period of time - with no ownership at the end.

You should weigh the pros and cons up carefully before deciding to buy your first car on finance.

Remember, you will need to pay interest on top of the car's price.

This can make the total cost higher than if you had paid for the car right away.

You can choose Hire Purchase (HP) car finance, Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) car finance, a personal loan, or leasing.

Which Cars Are Safest for New Drivers?

Generally speaking, the newer the vehicle, the safer it should be.

When choosing your first car, look for a vehicle that has such safety features as an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and auto emergency braking (AEB).

How Should I Budget?

It is important that you budget effectively when you’re planning on buying your first car.

Remember to budget for more than just the cost of the purchase.

Some of the running costs associated with owning a car include:

Car insurance
Road tax
MOT testing
Fuel

In some cases, your vehicle may be road tax exempt.

Should I Buy a Petrol, Diesel or Electric Car?

Cars that run on petrol are generally lighter and quieter than diesel cars.

Petrol cars are usually cheaper than diesel cars of the same type and age.

However, if you tend to make regular long journeys at high speeds, then a diesel car may be more efficient.

Diesel cars tend to use less fuel than petrol cars, but they aren’t designed to make short trips regularly.

You could wear your car out quickly if you make short trips in your diesel car, and you could unintentionally block the diesel particulate filter (DPF).

Electric vehicles are the most expensive choice of the three.

EVs take longer to ‘refuel’ with electricity, but this could be a good option if you tend to drive less than 100 miles a day and have a driveway where you can charge the car.