You’ve passed your driving test and you’re ready to get onto the road with your very own car. However, it’s not as simple as A, B, C and there are certain things you should know before you purchase a car. Certain factors will be different depending on the type of car and various other things, but most things are standard when you’re buying a vehicle. Here are some of the top things you should know before you go out and buy your first car.

1. Not all people are honest

If people want to sell their car quickly and at a price better than what it’s actually worth, don’t be surprised if they lie to you about certain things or try to cover up the faults and problems of the car. The trouble with buying cars from private sellers is that there is no guarantee if you drive away with the car and it turns out to be damaged or faulty. This is why it’s very important to check over the car thoroughly before you purchase it, and don’t make yourself out to be someone who doesn’t know very much about cars, or sellers will try and take advantage of this. Buying from a trader gives you a bit more security, since there is usually some kind of warranty with the car, even if it’s only for a couple of months, and the trader will be careful not to sell you a faulty car, since this would ruin his reputation for future business.

2. Cars can have internal faults

The biggest problems with a car are usually on the inside, so don’t be fooled by a shiny, appealing car. It’s easy to valet and clean a car up ready for viewers to come and see it, but don’t let this take you away from what’s important, which should be the state of the car and whether or not it’s a good vehicle to drive. If you don’t know how to check out a car’s internal features, ask a friend or family member who knows about cars to come with you to view the car. Cars may appear to drive smoothly, yet you might not notice certain knocking sounds or noises from the engine which can be large issues and very costly to fix.

3. You should see all the necessary documentation beforehand

Don’t be afraid of asking to see insurance certificates, certificates of ownership and any other documentation. Ask to see the car manual and also any servicing stamps or certificates which are available. All of these things will help you to know more about the car, and it’ll also provide you with peace of mind if you’re worried about purchasing a stolen car from a private seller. These documents will probably be readily available to you if it’s a genuine and honest seller who wants a good sale and a good buyer for their car.

4. It’s not a good idea to go into debt

Going into debt in order to buy your first car really isn’t the best option, and if you don’t have enough money yet to buy your own car, wait a little longer and save up for one. If you do buy a vehicle on credit, make sure that you have enough money each month in order to make the repayments, or you might end up having to contact debt agencies and other services in order to help with your debt troubles. Top 10 reviews of good debt software packages are a good option for those who need to control and manage any debt which they’ve incurred through purchasing a vehicle. If you manage to think ahead while you’re learning to drive, start saving your money for a car straight away. It’s much better driving your car on the road when you know it’s all paid for, and insurance and fuel costs will take up more than enough of your monthly income anyway!

5. There are other costs involved in having a car

This normally depends on which country you live in, but in most Western countries, you’re required to have tax and insurance on your car. Although you’ve paid for the car and you’re now the legal owner, you will still have to pay other costs. You should remember that your car will always need fuel in order to run, you will have to insure yourself to drive your car (which could be very costly if you’re a new driver) and you could have to pay road tax on it too. You should always have money saved away somewhere in case anything goes wrong with your car. Cars can be unreliable and can develop problems which end up leaving you with a hefty bill!

6. You’ll need to notify the necessary authorities

You may have to notify the driving authorities that you’re the new owner of the car and you’re driving it. Usually, you have a few weeks in order to do this, but do it as soon as you buy the car. By doing that, it’s all sorted out and you don’t have to worry about it after a few weeks when you have other things on your mind. You may also lose the documents which you need to fill in and send to the authorities, so getting it sent off as quickly as possible ensures that it’s safe and sound where it should be.

7. Don’t pick a car because of its appearance

As a new driver, you really shouldn’t choose a car because of its appearance. Not only are more flashy cars more expensive to buy and more costly to run, but you also run the risk of doing some damage to your nice new car if you’re not careful. Remember that although you’ve had many hours of driving lessons and driving practice, you’re still getting used to the road and your experience with driving has only really just begun. The car may look nice but not run very well on the road, so you may have the problem of having to get your car fixed all the time. It may keep breaking down, and if that is a regular occurrence, you’ll start to wish you had an ugly car which was a bit more reliable to drive!

8. Research the car first

If you’ve got your eye on a particular car or a particular make and model, do some research to find out more about it. Once of the best things that you can do is read reviews about the car from people who already own one, since this will give you a good idea about what the vehicle is like. It will also reveal any negatives about the car, and you’ll be able to look out for these as you go out and view different cars for sale. Reading about the car on the company website will give you a more biased view about the car, but you’ll be able to find out about all the different features which the car has to offer. When you go to view potential cars, ask the owner about any features which interest you in particular to make sure that everything is in good working order.

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