Perhaps you are yet to own your own car – your first car. Truthfully, the excitement that comes with it is unbeatable. Though the thought and readiness of buying your first car can be exciting, there’s a lot to manage.

Interestingly, planning ahead can help make the process easier—and help ensure you end up with the best car for you.

Do you need a car to get to class or work every day, or just for weekend adventures? What’s the weather like where you live—snowy, rainy or hot?

Do kindly start off by evaluating your lifestyle and the driving conditions you face most often. Do your research: Learn about different features and options and how they might affect your dream car’s price too.

To help you indeed, here are some important things to keep in mind as you start shopping for your first car.

1. THINK DEEP ABOUT YOUR BUDGET:

Take a realistic look at your finances, please. That includes not just the purchase price but budgeting for use and care of your future car, including maintenance, insurance, fuel, repairs and parking. Please do your math well.

2. FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

Shopping for your first car is a lot easier for you than it was for your parents. You know this right? Of course! The Internet offers a wealth of sellers beyond your local area (who may ship cars to your area, which may come with a fee), which can mean more choices in your price range. You can research and narrow down the choices by looking at online auto rankings in categories like safety or auto type (such as SUVs, hybrids). For new cars, ask multiple dealers to quote you prices. If you look at used cars, be sure to ask for a Carfax report, which details a used vehicle’s history, including any accidents.

3. TAKE A TEST DRIVE:

Once you’ve identified a few cars that might fit your needs and budget, take each for a test drive to see how you feel in it and how it performs. Try to drive all the cars you’re considering on the same day so you can easily compare them. It’s a good idea to call ahead to make appointments to structure the day—and it helps you gauge the customer service at each dealership.

KEY TAKEAWAY:

You’ve done your research, you know what you want and you have your financing in place. When it’s time to negotiate the deal, you’re in control, and can focus on reading your contract carefully. Before you sign, though, be sure you understand the terms of any financing and warranty agreements, if you are going for loan car.

Congratulations in advance from all of us at Prime Business Africa.

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