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If you’ve just passed your driving test, you’ll be looking at buying a car and the main consideration is likely to be low running costs. As well as price, you’ll want something reliable that won’t leave you stranded on the side of a road or rack up expensive repair costs.
Buying a car can be a stressful process if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. We’re here to help - here are a few things you may want to consider when you’re buying your first car:
1. Take it on a Test Drive
Make sure you view the car in person so you can see its condition, whether it’s been well-looked after and if you like driving it. You may think that all cars are the same, but different cars have slightly different biting points or buttons in different positions in comparison to the one that you did your driving lessons in.
Also, remember to check if the vehicle you’re buying has a full service history. If they have the paperwork available, it shows that the car has been in good hands and the owner has made regular checks and maintenance. Any gaps in the service history can ring alarm bells and may mean that there’s a higher risk of repairs required in the future.
2. Consider the Mileage
It doesn’t make sense to buy a car that has travelled hundreds of thousands of miles and doesn’t have much life left in it. Cars with high mileage are likely to be cheaper, but you should try to strike the balance between affordability and high mileage.
Bear in mind that the average mileage for a car per year is 7,900 miles for a privately-owned car so if you’re buying a car that is five years old, for example, you’ll be looking for around 39,500 miles on the odometer. Some cars will have done more, and some will have done less of course, but use that as a ballpark figure.
Ask the previous owner what type of driving they did in the car. If they spent a lot of their time driving on the motorway, it may mean that there’s high mileage, but less wear and tear on the clutch and brakes.
3. Keep the Unavoidable Costs Down
Running a car can be expensive, so make sure you account for the unavoidable costs that come with buying a car. These are:
You can choose your car to make sure you save the most money when it comes to the costs of running a car. When you’ve chosen your ideal vehicle, it’s wise to check for its fuel economy and how much it will cost for you to insure and tax the car each year. Some of the factors that affect how much it costs to insure your car include the car’s safety rating, its size and the age of the car.
Buying a car can be a huge life step. It gives you the freedom to embark on road trips, or even enjoy those few extra minutes in bed by driving to work rather than catching public transport. When you’re buying your first car, make sure you find a reliable and cost-effective vehicle to get you from A to B.
We can introduce you to a selected panel of lenders, which includes manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent. An introduction to a lender does not amount to independent financial advice and we act as their agent for this introduction. Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked directly to the particular franchise you are purchasing your vehicle from, who are usually able to offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions. If they are unable to make you an offer of finance, we then seek to introduce you to whichever of the other lenders on our panel is able to make the next best offer of finance for you. Our aim is to secure the best deal you are eligible for from our panel of lenders. Lenders may pay a fixed commission to us for introducing you to them, calculated by reference to the vehicle model or amount you borrow. Different lenders may pay different commissions for such introductions, and manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement, all of which are set by the lender concerned. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over. Guarantees may be required.
Shelbourne Motors (Newry) Ltd, Shelbourne Motors (Nissan) Ltd, Shelbourne Motors (Portadown) Ltd, Orchard cars Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 497010) allowing us to act as a credit broker, not as a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders. We are not an independent financial advisor and we act as their agent for this introduction. Typically, we receive commission from the lenders we work with, this may vary depending on the lender, but this does not influence the interest rate you will pay. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over. Guarantees may be required.
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