Our ultimate guide to purchasing a good first car
Are you looking for a good first car?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve gathered the ultimate guide to help you choose the best car to suit you!
Getting a first car is at the top of everyone’s memories as the confidence, independence and freedom that comes with it is absolutely thrilling.
It’s probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll be making for a while, which can be quite overwhelming. Getting a good first car is more than just a purchase, it comes with a lot of responsibilities that you should be ready to take charge of such as the maintenance cost, insurance cost and as we’ve seen recently, sudden changes in the fuel economy.
What do you need to consider before buying your first car?
Purchasing your first car before or after you’ve passed your driving test is a super big decision, and with many factors affecting your final choice – we’ve narrowed down the main points that you should consider before making the final purchase.
Choosing first time drivers’ Insurance
You’ve probably already heard about the extortionate insurance prices being your biggest expense associated with buying your first car. First time drivers tend to have more expensive insurance costs, but this can also change depending on the car you’re driving along with its specifications. You can always get a quote from comparison websites before purchasing the car to see if its reasonable for you!
Whilst it can be super expensive, insurance is a must and don’t worry – if you drive safely and stay out of trouble on the roads within the first 12 months of passing, you will be rewarded with a no-claims discount which should help to lower the cost of your second year of insurance.
Safety elements and features to think about
Every car is made to be secure and should help you get from point A to b safely, but each comes with different safety elements and features.
First time drivers tend to be used to learning in a smaller car. If you’re just getting yourself comfortable on the road by yourself, we suggest looking for smaller cars with a high safety rating from the independent assessment organisation NCAP who rank the safety of the car.
New cars come with extended safety features such as anti-lock brakes systems and electronic stability control which may be at the top of your priority.
What safety features do you consider important for your first car?
Automatic or Manual – which is best!
Drivers that have passed the manual driving test are able to drive both manual and automatic, whereas automatic driving passers must stick to automatic cars. Whilst manual cars tend to give some drivers confidence with controlling the cars mechanics, automatic cars are becoming more popular for ease of use in city driving and as a lot of newer, electric cars are all made automatic.
The choice is up to you, both have its’ advantages and disadvantages, so you should choose the car that you’ll feel safe and confident in driving.
Petrol vs Diesel vs Electric vs hybrid – so many options
Petrol cars are excellent and efficient for driving for short distances, whereas diesel cars are better suited for those that drive a lot and accumulate a lot of miles per year since they offer greater fuel efficiency, which helps you to save more money the more miles you drive.
Hybrid on the other hand, are much cleaner and fuel efficient with their resale values being high, the investment lowers tax bills and congestion charges you may face in the city. Electric cars offer zero emissions and minimal noise pollution, alongside zero road tax and congestion charges with it being the biggest investment.
With so many options to choose from, it’s up to you to decide which one will be worth your investment.
Extras worth considering
Everyone has a different taste of what they imagine their first car looking and feeling like, but cars also come with lots of extras so it’s your choice on what you need in your car…
Other features you might want to look out for:
- Good visibility
- Car play
- Light steering
- User-friendly controls
- Cruise control
- Fitted rear parking cameras
Where are you going to buy from?
Private sellers are becoming more popular, but it can be quite risky as you won’t have much support with understanding the cars history, records, and any questions you may have.
Globe VHS is thrilled to help first time drivers like yourself to look for their first car. We are an independent car sales garage based in Marlow with a wide selection of suitable cars on sale at affordable prices.
We will help you find your true match. We also offer a free oil and filter service, 12-Month MOT and nationwide warranty. We want to make your experience as positive as it can be and are on hand to answer any questions you may have!
Our top car picks
We have compiled a list of our favourite vehicles on hand for first-time drivers, based on their affordability, ease of use, and safety.
All of these are good first cars and have small petrol engines, are economical and are completely mechanically sound. All will come with a 12-month MOT, a free oil and filter service and 3 months, nationwide warranty.
View the cars for sale in our garage! Please contact us for more support, information or to book a test drive!
