5 Things Students Should Know About Buying Their First Car

5 Things Students Should Know About Buying Their First Car
  • Opening Intro -

    It’s finally time to make your first big purchase—a car.

    Though the thought of making such a big purchase can be as overwhelming as the search, know that as long as you know the basics, it can be as easy as buying anything else.

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Here are five things you should know to make buying your first car easier.

Build a Budget

Keep in mind that owning a car costs more than just the monthly payment. There’s gas, maintenance, insurance, parking, and repairs. Can you afford to get it fixed if it were to break down?

Start writing down your expenses, from rent, to tuition, to food, to entertainment, and figure out how much of what you spend on a car can factor in to that.

Note Your Needs

If you plan on driving the car every day, there’s no doubt you’ll want a model designed for heavy mileage. If, however, you just want something to mess around in on the weekends, maybe you can go for something a bit more unique.

Also consider the weather you’ll be putting it through. Snow has a much different effect on tires than high heat.

Research the Rides

A lot of research nowadays can and is done online. From that new Honda for sale to a used pickup truck, finding a car isn’t too hard. Beyond actually looking up available cars, make sure to compile a list of at least five to ten cars that you really like. This way, if you can’t find one model, there are still plenty of options.

Test the Track

Before ever agreeing to buy a car, go look at it in person. Check under the hood. Touch the components. Look under the car for rust. Give the wheels a good tap to see how sturdy they are.

Take the car on a test drive and make sure you hit both neighborhood roads and highways. Once you buy it, there’s no going back.

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Read the Documents

As soon as you think you’ve found your first, remember to stay calm and read the fine print. Can you take it back in if something goes wrong? How long can you do that for? Can you bring it in for regular maintenance? Make sure you understand what you’re signing before putting that pen to paper.

other valuable tips:

Your first car is an exciting time in your life and it should be. It’s often the first step toward you becoming a full-fledged adult who can take care of yourself. Just be sure to follow these five rules and you’ll have no trouble landing a great vehicle.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

Image Credit: Pixabay

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GUIDE: turn your home into a bank

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Categories: Campus Cars