Automatic: How to Buy Your First Car

Before 2017, the U.S. experienced seven consecutive years of record-breaking car sales. Even in 2017, sales were close to 2016, so even with the reported dip, the industry remains as robust as ever. If you’re looking to buy a car for the first time, this statistic is an indicator of how competitive the market can be. And while you may be eager to jump into that market and experience the joys of owning a car, there are a few things about the process you should realize first.

It’s All About the Budget

Cars cost money – lots of money. If you don’t take the time to establish a car budget that jibes well with your overall cost of living, you could inadvertently put yourself into dire financial straits. You’ll want to calculate a monthly car payment ranges that you can feel comfortable with, keeping in mind the other costs in your life, like rent, food, and insurance.

It’s also important to remember that your monthly car budget isn’t just relegated to your car payment. Items like fuel, car insurance, and miscellaneous stuff like oil changes must also be considered. If not, you could end up scratching your head wondering where your money went.

Pick a Car for Your Lifestyle

You may not want to talk practicality if you’re buying your first car, but it is nonetheless a vital component of the car buying process. You should take a moment to consider things like your commute or your hobbies and figure out whether that small car or large pickup fits comfortably within those metrics. If they don’t, you should probably consider something else, even if you don’t really want to.

The Power of Research

Thanks to the internet, you no longer have to see a car up close to get the bead on what it has to offer. There is a wealth of online materials available at your fingertips, ready to provide oodles of data on that car you’re considering. This data might be sufficient enough to lead you to consider another car.

Your research will ideally continue once you get to your local dealership, in the form of a test drive. You can pull all the data from the web you want, but you won’t truly get a feel for your potential ride until you take it for a spin. After all, there are few things worse you can do with a car than drive off the lot with a car that doesn’t suit you.

Do you have any practical tips on how your got your first car? Kindly share in the comment section.