Getting your license as a young driver is a major life milestone. For some, this translates to the exciting idea of getting their first car. But before you head out to any dealership or buy a new car, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Budget-Friendly
When looking for the right vehicle for any young driver, one of the first things you want to consider is your budget. Depending on how much you are looking to spend or are capable of spending, your choice of the car may vary. Obviously, the more money you have, the more options that will be available to you. If your budget is limited, you may have to be flexible in terms of the brand, year, make, and model of the car.
Reason Of Ownership
If you are buying a car because you need it for work, you may have a little more room for flexibility in terms of what you can afford. By attaining a car, some people will be able to work jobs that can allow them some financial flexibility. Additionally, the type of work you are involved in may also alter or have an effect on the car that you are looking to own and drive. If you are using your vehicle for things like delivery jobs, moving products, or passengers, there may be limitations in terms of what vehicles are acceptable from the company that you will be working for. You also want to keep in mind the needs of your vehicle. A construction or labor job may require you to carry tools and equipment of different sizes, which may force you to look for a larger car as well. Consider all of these reasons when choosing your vehicle.
Size Of Vehicle
The size of the vehicle you select is important in your decision-making. This has been touched upon when potentially considering your job and what you may be carrying. This also stretches into your personal life. You as an individual may want a larger car, SUV, or truck for a variety of reasons. If you are a taller or bigger person, a larger vehicle just makes sense. If you have a large family and need a vehicle to move more people, you need to put that into consideration as well. A van is more ideal if you have more people to drive, such as those with many children, or those that might be carpooling such as parents, or if you have a job as a coach and need to transport your team. Additionally, having a larger vehicle also comes with the benefit of having a better peripheral vision of the road, being able to see more around you as opposed to smaller cars. Factor all of these reasons to choosing a vehicle with the right size for your needs.
Leasing Or Buying
One important aspect you need to consider when choosing your car is the option of leasing or buying your car. Leasing provides you the option to essentially rent a vehicle with payments to a certain amount, and when those payments are made fully, you have the option to buy the vehicle or end the lease agreement. The benefit of a lease is that you are able to have a little more financial flexibility while being able to afford a newer model or what would otherwise be a more expensive vehicle to buy and drive. Of course, with a lease, you don’t own the vehicle where when you buy, you do. But not everyone has the same financial situation, which makes leasing a viable option. Consider what your circumstances are and you can decide how best to finance your car.
Used Car Shopping
Not everyone can afford to just buy a car, which is why leasing has become an option. Another alternative to leasing to consider if you have certain financial limitations is buying used vehicles. The fact is that cars in particular have a high depreciation to them. This translates to an immediate lower value as soon as they are driven off of a lot. If you are looking to save some money, but still want to own a car, this Kuni Auto Center dealer advises anyone to consider the benefits of used vehicle purchase. This often means that you will save money on newer cars, but also can get older reliable models at reasonable prices as well. This is important for any young drivers, as your budget may be limited. Additionally, parents tend to worry about their kids who are new on the road, and if you are giving them the keys to a new car, you are trusting them with a much larger investment that would be more costly if they got into any accidents or damaged the car. Used cars can be the perfect entry level vehicle ownership for young drivers.
Automatic Vs Manual
One way to save money is to consider looking into manual vehicles that require their drivers to learn how to drive a stick shift. These cars tend to be cheaper due to the lower demand for them. But if you are willing to put in the time to learn how to drive stick as a young driver, or are willing to teach as a parent to a new driver, this might be worth the financial savings. This also opens up the options for different cars to purchase and drive as these young drivers get older.
Safety Features
One of the most important factors to consider when you are choosing the right car for young drivers is what safety features are provided. Young drivers do not have experience on the road, so they may be more susceptible to accidents, ranging from collisions to some damages. If you are concerned about protecting younger drivers, you will want to look at different safety options. These will range from cameras around the car, to different technology that is designed to keep drivers safe.
It is important that you do the proper research before you choose a car to purchase as a young driver, as there are many factors to consider. With everything considered, you can be confident in the vehicle you purchase or lease, and be excited behind the wheel.
Photo by Maxwell Dacombe on Unsplash
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