Buying your first car

Buying your first car is a significant moment. You are unlikely to forget the experience. It is a step in becoming independent and can often be one of the biggest purchases for any person. 

You don’t want to waste your money on a dud, so follow the guide below to make sure you get a car that works for you!

Get that budget set! 

You must allocate a budget as to how much you want to spend on a car. This may include part/ full finance or a cash deposit. For example, we at Shokarz, finance vehicles of varied amounts. 

We provide our customers lots of support from start to finish and keep their overall budget in mind at all stages.

 We recommend that you have a monthly spend in mind, in order to help us and more importantly ensure that you are comfortable with taking on a finance loan responsibility. 

You Need to Consider all the running costs, these include: 

MOT – After a car is older than three years it must undergo an annual MOT test to ensure its roadworthiness. Any maintenance needed to make it fit for driving has to be carried out. This can include brakes, headlamps and tyres.

Fuel - You’ll need fuel if you want to drive anywhere.

Car insurance - Which can be expensive for new drivers.

Road tax – Unless your car is exempt

Where to find your first car?

Now we have many options…  You can either visit local dealerships or head online to browse new and used cars at your convenience.

If you want to buy a second-hand vehicle through a private seller then Autotrader is a great place to start!  It might take some searching, but that’s half the fun...

Checking things over

If you’re buying a new car you're protected by law and covered with a warranty should anything go wrong. However, it’s a good idea to give the car a visual check before driving it off the lot. The reason being that if you spot a scratch or ding when you get it home it’s very difficult to prove it didn’t happen after you left. If your car is being delivered, many dealers allow no quibble returns if you're not happy with the car.

Always remember when buying a used car not to rush into purchasing the first car you see. Take your time, look around and visit other dealers and private sellers to get a feel for what the market is like at the moment. You want to make sure you’ve made the right decision! 

If we can be of any help or assistance, please feel free to give us a call 01926 498434