Buying Your First Car

Buying Your First Car

It is an exciting time in your life when you are finally ready and in need of purchasing your first car. It can seem a little daunting to know what steps you need to take but here is some of the steps to keep in mind and help you prepare for this milestone.

1. Set your Budget
First you need to figure out your budget. This will determine if you go new or used, and if you are looking at a more basic model or a higher up trim. Sit down with your budget and figure out what you can comfortably afford. Keep in mind insurance, gas, and regular maintenance fees as well as your monthly car payment.

2. Decide what you want
It is also a good idea to have in mind what kind of vehicle you think you need. Depending on your family size, how much driving you do, how much storage you need will help you figure out if you need a car, a cross-over, an SUV or a truck.

3. Go to a Dealership
The next step to purchasing your first car is to check out some different vehicles and figure out what you are looking for. The last time I bought a vehicle, my minivan had just died. I had four kids and thought that a minivan was the only option for me. I did a test drive of what was in my budget and was not overly excited by it. The sales representative we were working with mentioned an SUV they had. I immediately said no to the SUV. I just had in my mind that a minivan was what I needed. Finally, I was convinced into a test drive. I fell in love with it. It had enough seats for my kids and was roomier than I had imagined. For the price I was able to get more features that I wasn’t going to be able to get in a minivan. If I had never gone to a dealership I wouldn’t have known that an SUV could even be an option or that I would like it so much more.
When picking a dealership start off with asking friends and family who they have used in the past and who they would recommend. A great experience will make your friends happily recommend a certain dealership. You can also hop onto google. Searching dealerships near me. Read reviews, check out their website and even their social medias. Buying your first car is a big purchase and you should feel comfortable with where you are spending your money.

4. Take for a Test Drive
A test drive is a must. Do you feel comfortable driving it? Parking it? How does it handle? Does it have features that were on your list of what you wanted. A test drive can help you determine if it is the right vehicle for you.

5. Inspection/CARFAX
With buying used you want to know if the vehicle has been in any accidents. You will need to purchase a CARFAX report. An inspection will also determine any issues before you purchase. This can be a risk when buying privately.
If you are purchasing used from Tom Smith Chevrolet you can feel comfortable knowing that all our vehicles have gone through a 150-point inspection. There will be no surprises. You can visit our website to check out all the information on our certified pre-owned vehicles.

6. Financing
You have decided what you want to buy. You have taken it for a test drive, and it has passed its inspection. Securing financing is the next step. It sounds a little scary, but sitting down with the finance department at a dealership is an easy experience. Depending on credit you may need a co-signer but all the details you will go through to help you on the road to purchasing. If buying privately make sure to look up your province’s guidelines.

7. Enjoy your new Vehicle!
You did it! Everyone remembers their first vehicle they purchased. You will buy quite a few cars in your life but buying your first car will always stick out in your memory.