Determine Your Budget

Your car is your home away from home, your home on wheels if you’d like, and as such it’s also one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make.

Cars are expensive – both to buy and operate, so one of the first steps you should take when buying a car is figuring out your budget. In families needing more than one car, you'll have to split the car-buying budget among the number of vehicles required.

Know What You Want

The next obvious step is to write down your must-have features for your new car.

Take the time to decide what features you consider essential such as safety features, economical, enough legroom, comfort, or spacious storage. And proceed by noting down the ones that would be nice-to-have such as cup holders, a keyless entry, or a large glovebox. This will help you narrow down the search for the type of vehicle that would match your needs best.

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Do Enough Research on Your Own  

Now that you know what features you want in your new car, and once you have decided on your budget – we can move on to the next step – Research!

Start researching online for cars within this price range and their specific features.

Get Advice from Your Friends and Family

You may not know everything about cars yourself, so during the research phase make sure to get some advice from your friends or family members. 

The ‘right car’ depends on who you are and what you expect from a car, so why not get advice from the people closest to you (and the ones who know you best). Friends and family can help you assess your needs better and narrow down your search.

Talk to Your Insurance Agent

It’s always a good idea to shortlist a few car candidates before you make your decision. Once your list is created, ask your insurance agent to provide estimated premiums for each alternative. In doing so, you will be able to get a better idea of how much your insurance premiums will increase if you choose one alternative over another.

Make a Decision on the Model

After doing research and talking with friends and family members about what type of car is best for you, decide on one specific model! Once this decision is finalized, go into the dealership prepared to purchase the vehicle. If you have done enough research, this should be a simple process.

Look at the Car's Quality

Once you’ve settled on a car, you should visit the dealership in person to evaluate the car before making a final decision. Make sure that it is in good condition by taking a close look. Check for any scratches or dents and ask about how old the tires are. If there isn't much information on when each of these things was replaced, this may not be the best car for you!

You should even take an expert's opinion and ask a trusted mechanic to inspect the car before you sign any documents.

Take It for a Test Drive

Before purchasing the car, take it for a test drive to make sure that you feel comfortable and confident in the car. Take the time to see how it performs on a variety of roads. Make sure there are no strange sounds during the test drive and ask the salesperson if they have any more information on how well built this model is.

If everything checks out, you should be good to go!

Read All of the Documents Thoroughly

Finally, once you have decided on which vehicle is right for your needs, it's time to make sure that everything has been finalized by reading all paperwork thoroughly! Once this process is complete, congratulations! You've found your new vehicle!

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Give it a Good Cleaning

Before taking your new car home for the first time, make sure you give it a good clean inside and out.

A cleaner car will make you feel happy and satisfied with your purchase, so be sure to hit the road with a shiny car on the outside and a squeaky-clean car on the inside!