Getting the certificate to say that you have passed your driving test can be a very exciting time in anyone’s life. Whether you have worked hard for years to pass the test or you have aced it on your first attempt after only a few hours, the opportunity and freedom of having your driving license are liberating and exciting. 

If you are a new driver, you will no doubt be in a rush to go out and buy your very first car. But, before you go off and get the first car you see that matches your budget, you should stop and consider a few very important things. 

Weigh Up All Of The Running Costs

Whatever car you choose to buy, you will have several different running costs to consider. Some cars can be a great deal more costly than others to run, and you should find out as much as you can about the car before you consider purchasing it.

Firstly, a major cost that you should look at is insurance for cars. This will differ depending on the make, model, age, and value of the car. A newer and more desirable model, or a bigger and faster car, will cost more than an older, cheaper, smaller car. If you have a particular model in mind, get quotes from a number of insurers before purchasing anything. 

The other things that you should look at are the costs of parts. It is inevitable that during your ownership of the car, things will need replacing. Tires, brake pads, and filters are only designed to last a certain amount of miles. And, other parts may need swapping out too as they wear out. 

Fuel consumption is another area that you should look at. Some cars are great and can go for miles on the smallest amount of petrol. Some can be fuel guzzlers though, and you will find that they swallow more petrol than you can afford. 

New Vs. Old

One of the other considerations that you will need to make is whether you are going to buy a new car or a used model. There are definite pros and cons to both. New cars come with a warranty. You are the first owner, so there are no issues in the car’s history that you should be worried about. However, new cars can be expensive, and begin drastically losing their value the moment that you start driving them. 

For many people, buying a car that has been on the road for a couple of years means that you are taking advantage of the drop in value without necessarily having to worry about the car having the kind of major issues that an older car may have. If you are buying used, it is advisable to check the mileage and the history of the car and look for any red flags before you commit.