What to look for when buying your first car

Shopping for your first set of wheels is an exciting and emotional time, when you’re faced with balancing matters of the head, the heart and the hip pocket.

A Carsales study has revealed that one in five vehicles purchased in a 12-month period was a ‘first car’, and three out of four of those were used.

Whether you’re a chomping-atthe-bit school leaver or maybe a more mature late-blooming first-car buyer, there are a few things you need to know before you part with your hard-earned cash.

But which one?

Consumers are spoilt for choice. From affordable micro-cars to SUVs and budget-blowing sports cars, there’s a sea of cars on the market.

Understanding which car is best suited to your needs is the first step – it also sorts the relevant from the irrelevant, delivering a shortlist of potential cars that truly makes sense. Finding a car can be time consuming, so efficiency is a good thing – start by looking online.

Laws are non-negotiable It’s important to know the law that applies to you as a learner or probationary licence holder. It’s different in each state and territory.

If you are on a probationary licence, some of that ‘narrowing the field’ has been done for you. To avoid disappointment, be sure that the car you want is the car you’re legally allowed to drive.

Make sure you’re covered There’s no use in finding the car of your (current) dreams only to find you have zero dollars left to insure it. There are several factors that impact your insurance premium, so make sure that you budget for insurance and take the time to get the right coverage for you and your car.

Whether you drive a well-worn or a brand-new car, everyone needs insurance. And the sting of annual insurance premiums is real. We understand that you can’t do anything about your age, if you have a garage and definitely not your driving history, but there are some factors you can control.

The best way to control that is research and shopping around for the best insurance that suits you.

Show it you care

Now that you know how much time, money and effort goes into finding a new car, our best advice is to look after yours. Wash it, polish it, care for the interior and stick to the suggested service schedule. A well-maintained car is a more valuable car and one day you’ll be looking to trade in your first for another. Pay it forward.