13 tips: How to Buy a Car For the First Time

Everyone wants to have their own car to help them travel wherever and whenever they want. Just buying a car for the first time can be very difficult for people who have never bought a vehicle in their lives.

Buying a car for the first time Instead of choosing a car for you, you are traveling, but also for your future investment. - Sahalion.com

It is important to make a plan to purchase a car that suits you well.

This is because you will be confused with various brands, and various types, and you have to buy according to your needs.

And this is a difficult challenge to meet when you have a car.

Remember, it's very easy to fall in love with a car that you see in front of your eyes, it's just that if you buy your car wrong, it will make you lose money for finance and maintenance.

Here are 13 tips for buying a car the first time.

1. Prepare your money

Budget funds are very important for buying a car. It's good to buy the first time or to buy time. Everyone will ask you to prepare the money first. The financial budget that you have to prepare is not only for cars but also for operational costs that cannot be used. This includes:

a. Maintenance costs

This is one of the operational costs that you must prepare for. Starting from oil, service, and simple maintenance such as washing a car. However, if you can do your own car maintenance, you can reduce costs.

b. Tax Fees

If you buy a car this year, you will be subject to road tax as the car owner, this is the rule in every country in the world. In some countries, there should be cars that are not heavily taxed by the government.

c. Fuel

This is the most costly fund for you because you need to buy fuel every day to keep your car running. This is what is important for finding fuel-efficient cars.

Having a sufficient budget makes you freer to choose your first car, never buy a car if you don't have a good financial budget.

2. New or used car


You have to decide whether your first car is a new car or a used car.

If you buy a new car, of course, you will get various damage warranty protections or free maintenance costs for one year. It's just that sometimes the seller will add your costs, such as insurance, and sometimes warranty protection is only for heavy accidents.

If you buy a used car, of course, you don't get one that still shines. And you may be confused about whether to buy from a dealer or a private seller.

The advantage is that you will get a cheaper price.

3. Determine the type of payment

This is why it is important to determine your financial budget first. By knowing how much money you have, you can decide whether to buy with cash or by using a credit loan from a bank or a third party.

Buying a vehicle with cash will certainly help you avoid bank loans. And buying cash often gets you cashback or other discounts. It's just that you have to really calculate the budget properly so as not to disrupt the financing of your other life.

Buying a car with a bank loan or from a third party will certainly help you have a car quickly. But you have installments that must be paid in accordance with the agreement. Late payments can get you a fine, but if you can arrange payments on time, you certainly won't have a problem.

Tips: Many people suggest that when buying a car for the first time, it's better to pay in cash.

4. Check your needs

Before you decide to buy a car for the first time, you must know what your car needs to be. Is it only to be used to go to the office and take the child to school, or to help you bring lots of people, or to lift camping equipment?

Do you want a luxury car, a sports car, an SUV, a sedan, or a truck?


This is important because each car is designed for different needs. If you want a family car, you can buy a car of sedan type or a small car, or if you want a car with extensive space and luggage, you can buy an SUV with a large engine.

5. Find out what you want from the car

When you want to buy a car, find out what you want from the car as an advantage to make it easier for you to make a decision when choosing.

Consider whether you want a car like this:
  • The distance from the driver's seat to the passenger seat is quite wide
  • Cars are fuel-efficient
  • Extensive rear storage baggage
  • Safety features provided by the car
  • Cars that last a long journey
  • Cars can run on snowy terrain
To make it easier for you to find the advantages of a car, you can read the specifications of the car on the internet, there are many sites that review vehicles.

6. Determine your car brand

Maybe you already have a favorite brand when deciding to buy a car for the first time, but you also need to know about the brands of some other cars. This is useful to know which brand is the best and fits your money and needs.

And most importantly, each brand offers different offers and services for their customers, so you should be able to check what you will get when buying a car from a particular brand.

To help you, there are several world-famous car brands:

America:

  • Ford
  • Chevrolet
  • Cadillac
  • GMC
  • Jeep
  • Tesla

Japan:

  • Toyota
  • Honda
  • Suzuki
  • Mazda

South Korea:

  • Hyundai
  • KIA

Europe:

  • BMW
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Volkswagen
  • Peugeot
  • Mini Coopers
  • Ferrari
  • Audi
  • Lamborghini
  • Fiat
  • Volvo 
Tips: Take the 3 car brands you want, and compare each one.

7. Check and compare car prices

The most important thing when buying a car for the first time is to find out about car prices and compare the prices of other cars. This will help you find a cheap price. Many factors cause the prices of cars to varying, including yourself. You can choose a car that is a little more expensive if it suits your needs.

To find out prices and compare cars, you can use the internet. There are many sites that you can use.

8. Check the selling price of the car

Some say that the car is not an investment, because the price will continue to fall. But this assumption is not too precise, even though the price of old cars will continue to decrease every year, there are some brands that can survive with a high enough selling price. This will certainly benefit you a little.

If you are buying your car for the first time, you must be able to determine this sale price as an investment in the future. Because you might want to replace a new car a few years after buying it.

9. Buy a car from a dealer or private seller

Buying a car for the first time from a dealer or private seller has different benefits.


Buy a car at a dealer; they offer many offers such as cashback and discounts. They also offer a guarantee and several financing options. And they help you prepare documents.

Buy your first car at a used dealer; they help you to pay for car purchases, they also help you prepare documents, and they also offer guarantees on the used cars they sell.

If you choose a used car as your first car and buy it from a private seller, they don't help you with the transfer of ownership, you have to do it yourself, and they have no warranty. The advantage is that you get a cheaper price.

10. Availability of official workshops

Check whether there is an official workshop for the car you want to buy at your place. Because car repairs in official workshops are more profitable than having to make repairs in other mechanics because the mechanic in the official workshop knows more about the type of your car and auto parts are usually widely available.

11. Conform to your personality

Apart from needs, many people buy their first car because it suits them. Those who are 25 years old tend to like sports cars or sedans. Because they are interested in speed and modification. Whereas those who are 50 years old really like SUVs or Trucks. Because it looks elegant and comfortable.

12. Check vehicle insurance

The cost of car insurance depends on several factors, such as age, driving experience, and others. Car insurance may be a little expensive at your place, but this is very useful for the protection of the first car. So you have to know about vehicle insurance in your area before buying.

13. Test the vehicle

When you have drawn up a plan, prepared a budget, and chosen a brand and type of car. When you decide to buy a car, do a test drive first to decide whether to follow up or not. 

For a test drive, you can't do it just by walking 1000 meters, but try to go a little further to find out that your first car is very comfortable and in accordance with what you want.

A Common Mistake When Buying the First Car

Buying your first car is quite difficult because you will think of all the things you need to do to get the car you want. The mistake of buying your first car can cost you hundreds of dollars and affect your budget for years.

Factors that cause mistakes when buying a car.

1. Not doing research

The mistake of a beginner when making a first car purchase is not doing research in detail. Don't find out what they need and what they want from the car they buy. Don't just look for dealers recommended by your friends or on social media. Take your time to research more vehicles to find them. You might find a good car around you, but if you walk or find out more, you will get the best car at the right price.

2. Love at first sight

People who want to buy a car for the first time often get stuck with "love at first sight", They are too quick to fall in love when they first see it, be it for its appearance, price cuts, or performance, but they fail to consider real needs. Sedans may be suitable for those who want to find a family car, but this has little storage baggage. SUVs are suitable for family cars and have extensive luggage, but they have an expensive price.

When choosing your first car, make sure it fits your needs and finances.

3. Not counting all financing budgets

The mistake that often occurs is that many people who want to buy a car for the first time do not calculate the overall operational costs. They only focus on the advertised price of the car. There are many costs that you will incur, such as fuel, scheduled maintenance, and insurance. Not yet are the risks that arise, such as rising fuel prices, unexpected damage to your car, and routine maintenance.

If you have prepared a large budget, this is certainly not a problem. If you have a tight budget, cars with low prices can be a good choice because they are easy to maintain and repair.

4. The first car must be a new car

Many people assume that "the first car is a new car". This is clearly wrong thinking. For the first time, your car does not have to be a new car. You can make a used car your best choice for a car.

New cars have higher prices, higher insurance, and higher depreciation. In contrast to used cars that have experienced price depreciation, you will get cheaper prices and lower insurance when you buy one.

Buying a used car as well as your first car will save you thousands of dollars.

5. Tempted by low prices

Cheap prices are tempting, but you should never be fooled by the prices offered to you. If it's a new car, it might be a good choice, but does the car fit your needs? Paying a little more for the car you need might be necessary.

If you buy a used car for a cheap price, you should do a detailed inspection. Because maybe the used car has a lot of damage and the seller just wants the car to be sold quickly.

6. Taking long-term financing

Many people who buy their first car on credit, will take a longer payment term to reduce the cost of monthly payments. The fact is that the longer you take the time period, the more expensive it becomes, and a lot of money must be spent. The best solution is to either consider buying a new car at a low price, so you don't impose your financial budget, or buy a used car at a low price.

7. Buy a used car without research

If you choose a used car as your first car, do not immediately buy it without checking in detail. Remember, anyone can eliminate dents in the body of the car and cover oil leaks. Don't fall into the trap of buying a car that "looks good".

Do a deep test to find out if the car is worth buying. If you don't understand mechanics, you can bring your friends who understand the vehicle.

8. Depressed by the seller

The seller will always know that you are looking for your first car. And they will immediately show a promotional strategy so that the car they sell is quickly bought. They will press you with the sayings "This car provides cashback", "This car is perfect for you", "Discount purchases only occur today", and the fact that the car may not suit your needs or even meet your financial budget.

If you get service like that, you better go around alone.

9. Do not test drive

You might have chosen your favorite car brand as your first car, and have heard a lot of advantages from many people that the car is good. And you are interested in buying that car.

The mistake is that you don't test the car to see whether it is comfortable for you to drive. Remember that, according to other people, it is definitely not suitable for you.

10. Do not read the contents of the contract

The contract given to you contains the terms and policies of the seller-buyer relationship. And you will be asked to sign the papers.


Many buyers will immediately sign the document without clearly reading the contents of the policy. This will make it easier for someone to take advantage without being suspicious. 

If this is your first time buying a car, make sure you carefully read the contents of the purchase document.

Conclusion:

Buying your first car is the most important moment in your life, and of course, you will look for the best car. Choosing a new car or used car as a choice is very dependent on you, understanding the guide to buying a car for the first time will help you in planning and avoiding mistakes in buying your first car.
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1 Comments
  • Motor Mazad
    Motor Mazad December 7, 2023 at 1:24 AM

    Thank you, MotorMazad, for this comprehensive guide! Purchasing a car for the first time can indeed be an overwhelming experience. Your breakdown of crucial considerations like budget planning, payment options, and understanding individual needs versus wants is incredibly helpful for rookies in the automotive world.

    The tips shared here serve as a great roadmap to navigate through the complexities of choosing between a new or used car, checking and comparing prices, and, importantly, avoiding common pitfalls like making impulsive decisions or overlooking contract details.

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