Five Steps to Purchasing Your First Car

Consider your needs - Do you want a manual or automatic transmission? Do you want 4WD? What safety features are important to you? Two or four door? Knowing exactly what you want will help save you time and money in the long run.

Think about your budget – What do you plan on spending on a vehicle? If you are financing, what can you afford to put towards car payments every month? Don’t forget about insurance rates and gas prices when factoring in your monthly car budget. A good rule of thumb is that your monthly car payment shouldn’t be more than 20 percent of your monthly take-home pay.

Book your test drive – Nowadays you can book your test drive online. This saves you ample amount of time as the dealership will have the car fueled and ready for you to drive when you get there. I would suggest test driving at least 3-4 vehicles before making your final decision. Your list from considering your needs will help you narrow your choices down to a few different makes and models.

How to test drive a car – Of course we all know how to drive a vehicle, but do we really know how to test drive a vehicle? Test driving a used car properly helps you decide if it is the right car for you. It will also help you determine if the vehicle you are interested in is in good condition.  Once you’ve situated yourself behind the wheel, ask yourself if it is a good fit. Does it offer sufficient headroom and legroom? Are the steering wheel and other controls positioned at a convenient location for you? Take your time and be sure to turn off any distractions while driving, including the radio.

Making your decision – Once you’ve decided on that perfect used car, it’s time to fill out the paper work. Before you go to pick up your new vehicle make sure you’ve made the trip to your insurance broker and to the Ministry of Transportation to pick up your new license plate or register your old one. Once all that is done and you pick up your car it’s finally time to relax and enjoy your new ride!