Getting your first car is always an exciting event, whether you’re in your teens or getting your license later in life. It’s also packed with so many memorable milestones, like your first road trip, late-night drive, and fast-food drive-through with friends.
Like many life events, however, it can also be daunting. While getting a car is a ticket to greater freedom and independence, there are also factors to consider before choosing your first set of wheels.
For example, regular servicing is an essential part of car ownership, and the cost can depend on your car’s make and model. So, it’s important to know your local mechanic and car mobile electrician options for maintenance and potential repairs.
Whether you’ve just purchased your first car or you’re still looking for the right vehicle, this article is for you. Our guide covers everything you need to know about getting your first set of wheels and preparing you for the road.
Before we jump into finding the right vehicle and insurance, it’s important to understand what a car make and model is. The make is essentially the car’s ‘brand’, often the manufacturer. For example, Toyota, Honda, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
The model is the specific name for a manufacturer’s range or series of cars. For example, Honda Prelude, Mazda MX5, and BMW X5. Models are usually distinguishable by their appearance, technology, and components.
When looking for the right vehicle, it’s important to understand there is no ‘perfect’ make or model. As long as the car you’re interested in is in good condition and has been cared for, it will be able to take you from point A to B.
If you’re already looking for your first car, it’s more than likely that you already have an idea of whether you want an automatic or manual car. There are pros and cons for both types of transmission systems.
Cars with manual transmissions are typically cheaper than their automatic counterparts. Depending on the year, manual counterparts can also have better fuel economy, so you’ll save on petrol in the longrun.
Automatic cars can be a great choice, especially if other people are going to be borrowing/driving the vehicle. Modern automatics can often match (or beat) their manual counterparts when it comes to fuel efficiency, too.
If you’re planning to purchase a car, it’s important to set a realistic budget. Along with the car itself, you also need to budget for additional costs, including:
If your dream car is slightly out of your budget, you could always try negotiation or wait a little bit longer—it’s always worth it. For older models, the used car market is always fluctuating.
The best first car to buy is one that has a high safety rating. Since 1992, ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) has been crash-testing and publishing its results for vehicles, which are available on its website.
On their website, it’s possible to search for a specific make, model, and year. For any car that you’re interested in, you should check its safety rating on the ANCAP first. Not only do they rate the car’s safety (out of five stars), but they also detail all safety features.
A question almost as old as time: Should you get a vehicle new from a dealer or purchase it secondhand? There is no perfect answer to the question; it’ll depend on your budget, the make/model you’re interested in, and the condition of the car.
In most cases, while a new car is always going to be better than buying secondhand, it is more expensive. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. When buying new, you get support from the dealership and a quality guarantee.
If you’re planning to buy a used car, it’s always recommended to get a third party to inspect the vehicle, especially if it isn’t from a used dealership. It’s also critical to always get the previous owner and service history, as well as check the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to ensure: no money owing, the car isn’t stolen or written off.
Before buying a car, whether from a dealer or a private seller, there are a few things you should do. These include:
We also recommend a pre-purchase mechanical inspection. It’s also important to transfer the registration into your name and get insurance for the vehicle. A few vehicle insurance options include:
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