Owning Your First Car: Frequently Asked Questions
Owning a car for the first time is one of the most exciting rites of passage for any young person. However it also comes with a lot of responsibility and it’s important to be aware of the various costs and obligations that comes with taking care of your own vehicle.
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions that people have about owning their own car.
Where is the best place to buy a used car?
Most young people are not going to be able to afford a brand new vehicle for their first car. Therefore it’s very important to know where to buy a value for money used car. You have three main choices when looking to go second hand – buying from a dealer, buying from an auction or buying from a private seller.
Whilst it’s possible to get a good deal using any of these options, by far the safest is to buy from a licensed dealer. The reason for this is that you’ll usually get a warranty included and the dealer will have to adhere to certain standards when selling used cars. With an auction or a private seller, there is no come back if something goes wrong with the vehicle. This is an excellent guide by the AA on buying a used car
How expensive is it to run a car?
This will depend a lot on the size of the car you get. A car with a larger engine is always going to cost more to fuel than cars with smaller engines. It will also depend on how old the car is. Modern cars are much more efficient and don’t burn up as much petrol as older cars so if you’re able to afford a car that was built in the last 10 years then this could save you a lot of money on running costs.
Tax is another on-going outlay that comes with running a car. Tax discs are not overly expensive and you can purchase them to cover you for either 6 months or 12 months.
How often do I have to have it serviced?
You have to get an MOT for your car at least once every 12 months. This is required so that you can drive your car legally. There are deals you can find that have servicing included. For example BMW offer service inclusive packages for their customers. Click the link to browse BMW’s service inclusive packages.
How much will I have to pay for Insurance?
If you’re a new driver in the 18-24 age bracket then it’s an unfortunate fact that you will pay a good deal more for your insurance than older drivers. The reason for this is that people in this age group are statistically much more likely to be involved in a collision. Luckily there are insurance providers who specialise in offering insurance to younger drivers. Marmalade offer unique packages for new and young drivers.
Should I buy a car before I pass my driving test?
This usually isn’t recommended. It’s never great for a car to remain unused for extended periods of time . Moreover, it’s a temptation to use the car unsupervised before passing the test, which can easily result in a driving ban or heavy fine before you even start.
