Things young drivers should consider when purchasing their first car

Most young drivers are super excited to get on the roads as soon as they are old enough to do so! In this article, we share with you a few tips to consider when purchasing your first car…

1. Budget – When considering the costs of purchasing a vehicle, whether outright or by finance, people often fail to remember the additional ongoing costs associated with their purchase. For example, different vehicles are allocated to different taxation bands. This could lead to a considerably higher cost layout per month.
   
   
2. Insurance Class & Security – Usually, vehicles are allocated to a numbered insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50 (most expensive). Purchasing a vehicle with a lower insurance classification is likely to lower the ongoing premium.
   
   Vehicles with features such as alarm systems, automatic locking and tracking devices are deemed less likely to be stolen, which may decrease your insurance premiums.
   
   
3. Fuel Efficiency – Choosing a vehicle with good fuel efficiency can help you save money over time. It’s worth bearing in mind that fuel costs only ever seem to increase.
   
   
4. Reliability – Different vehicles are known for their different levels of durability and reliability.
   
   Whilst we can never predict if something might go wrong with the vehicle of your choice, it’s worthwhile researching common faults associated with that vehicle make and model.
   
   
5. Safety – All vehicles have a safety rating. An excellent resource for identifying the safety rating for your desired vehicle would be euroncap.com.
   
   As a new and potentially inexperienced driver, it is important that your vehicle has a good safety rating, should the worst happen.