How Students Should Choose Their First Cars

It can get tiring, hauling all those heavy textbooks from your dorm room or house to the college campus and back. Even with 4 years of lifting heavyweights under my belt, I still found it tiring in my own college years. That’s why getting a car can be a good idea.

But first it’s important to get the important things done first even before you get a car, and that’s getting the academics sorted. Sometimes it’s easy to just seek assignment help from others.

That said, how do you pick your first car as a student? In this article, we will go through the steps to do this easily and intelligently. Basically, the points can be summarized as below, though we will expand on everything in the body of the article:

You first need to do your research and see what’s on the market. This is assuming you’ve already thought critically about whether you really need a car in the first place.
Next, you go for a safe vehicle. This isn’t just about your safety, though. A safer vehicle generally has cheaper insurance.
Next you look at the style of the car – such things as its size, fuel economy, interior and exterior features, size, and so on.
Next, you consider the cost of the car. When setting your budget, consider both the initial purchase price and the ongoing expenses.
Finally, consider asking a third party just before you take the plunge. A family member, mentor, or friend who knows a thing or two about cars should be able to give you some perspective.

Below are some tips to help you with the process above:

Create a shortlist

Most students can’t afford the latest luxury or sports cars. You should therefore narrow down your options to something a little more affordable. To get a sense of direction, you can do a little bit of investigation online, or ask your friends with cars for some advice. The most common brands among students are Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota, so that’s a good place to start.

While you’re doing your research, put your needs before your wants. While traffic monitoring and GPS sound fancy, they aren’t necessary for most people because smartphones already do that. That said, you also don’t want run-down cars that have been in accidents before or are older than a decade. Remember, your safety comes first.

Things like emergency braking and airbags are non-negotiable. Not only will you be safer, but your insurance will be cheaper too. You should also consider smaller cars, as they consume less fuel and are easier to find parking space for. I learned these with essay writing service UK while writing auto insurance articles.

Let your budget guide you

Setting a budget is the boring part, but it’s also very important. Fortunately, you don’t need an MBA to do it well. You can check out comparison tables online to help you get costs ranging from price to registration to insurance, to upkeep costs on a weekly basis. This makes it much easier to draw up an accurate budget.

Once you have a budget ready, look for second-hand cars within it. Also consider that you may not have the money to pay for everything upfront, in which case you should consider what financing options are available. The budgeting process is pretty effective at narrowing down your options, so take it seriously as it will help you make a faster decision. Besides, sorting out the finances before you buy the car makes you much more confident about the process.

Ask for advice

The above two tips cover the bulk of the process, but you’re not out of the woods yet. It’s important to take the process slowly and deliberately. Find an experienced car owner whose opinion you value and ask them for advice about your decision. This is important because there might be little things you have overlooked. You should also preferably have the friend come with you to inspect the car, as well as the paperwork so as to ensure there are no loopholes. They might also offer valuable advice on the best insurance to get for the vehicle.

Make sure you also consider all your financing options, and ask for advice if you need to. Financing comes in all shapes and sizes, and there are plenty of loans made especially for students. However, navigating the mass of paperwork and lender options can feel overwhelming. You might also need a co-signer for the loan, in case your credit score isn’t very good. This is why it’s a good idea to have an older, more experienced person help you through it all.

Conclusion

There are many stressors out there for students, whether it is an upcoming exam or student loans. A car can make things easier, and might just be an absolute necessity, depending on your circumstances. With a car, you don’t have to pay inflated fares to commute, and your schedule becomes a lot more flexible. With the steps above, getting that car should be much easier.