Learning how to drive and buying a new car are major life milestones. Perhaps you\u2019ve landed a new job? Maybe you\u2019ve just received your admissions letter and need a car for school?<\/p>\n
Whether you are young or old, your first time on the road can be scary and dangerous. If you aren\u2019t inheriting the family clunker and need to buy a car yourself, this adds another level of intimidation.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019re sharing some of the best tips for first-time car buyers.\u00a0While everyone dreams of driving a Ferrari or Lamborghini, we all know it’s not the best first car purchase. Regardless, a first car is your ticket to freedom.<\/p>\n
But before we share our favorite cars for new drivers, here are some tips for finding the perfect vehicle:<\/p>\n
Car-buying research includes searching for the make and model of your desired car and making sure there aren\u2019t any major consumer complaints, recalls, or safety-related defects. Just because you like the look doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s a good first-time car. It\u2019s important to keep your emotions at bay when researching your ideal first vehicle.<\/p>\n
Just because there is a new pickup truck on the market doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the best car for your day-to-day needs. If you don\u2019t have a family, an SUV or minivan may not be the best choice either. Research the costs of fuel, maintenance, and repairs.<\/p>\n
Be realistic with your car budget. If you have to pay for the car yourself, this is an important time to demonstrate responsibility and potentially save hundreds (if not thousands) at the dealership. While the best option is to pay for the entire vehicle in cash, sometimes that\u2019s just not possible. Most car buyers need some sort of financing<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow the 20% rule<\/strong> and make sure your car payments and all automotive expenses don\u2019t exceed 20% of your monthly income. For instance, if your take-home pay is $2800, then your total auto expenses should not exceed $560. Take into account gas, insurance, maintenance, registration, and repairs. It may take you some time to figure out what car you can afford, but it\u2019s definitely worth it.<\/p>\n One of the biggest mistakes that first-time car buyers make is getting a car they cannot afford. Don\u2019t make this mistake. If you are considering purchasing a car for $18,000, set your budget around $3,000-$5,000 less than that to account for taxes, registration fees, insurance, options and add-ons.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to take into account your down payment and the length of your loan when determining which car you can afford.<\/p>\n Unless you have a family member or close friend of the family who is willing to give you a great deal, stay away from private sellers. There\u2019s a lot of risk involved and it can add a lot of extra time, money, and energy to your car-buying journey. Buying and selling a car at a dealership is a lot easier and more secure.<\/p>\n Certified pre-owned vehicles are the best kind of used car you can buy. Instead of buying a new car, which can lose about 60% of its value within the first five years, look for CPO vehicles, which are often in \u201clike-new\u201d condition.<\/p>\n Never purchase a vehicle without first viewing a CarFax report. If you know the vehicle\u2019s VIN number, you can look up its vehicle history report on CarFax. However, if you buy a vehicle from a dealership, they will most likely have a CarFax report available for free.<\/p>\n This report provides essential information on the vehicle\u2019s past life, including accident reports, emissions results, service records, title information, and history of previous owners.<\/p>\n All Auto Simple pre-owned vehicles<\/a>\u00a0go through a rigorous\u00a0180-point inspection\u00a0and come with a\u00a0free CarFax report.<\/em><\/p>\n When looking for a responsible and reliable first car, such as a Toyota Coroll<\/a>,\u00a0Mazda3<\/a>, or\u00a0Honda Civic<\/a>, make sure you do your research into the dealership first.<\/p>\n Learn what separates Auto Simple from the rest:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Cy-2pWefRS0<\/p>\n It\u2019s never been easier to know what to look for when inspecting your potential new vehicle. In addition to a visual inspection of the inside and outside of the vehicle, you\u2019ll want to take it for a test drive. Read our Used Car Buyer\u2019s Guide<\/a> to find out exactly what you should be paying attention to.<\/p>\n When financing your new vehicle, try to put at least 20% percent down. This makes it a lot less likely that you will default on your loan. The more money you put down, the more secure your purchase will be. For instance, if the car gets totaled, you could end up owing more money than the car is worth.<\/p>\n Before you approach a bank or credit union for a loan, check with the dealership. They often have better financing options if you are purchasing the car from them. And since all the payments and purchases come from one place, it makes things a lot simpler.<\/p>\n If you have bad credit, don’t worry. You may be able\u00a0to get a co-signer so you can piggyback off their good credit.\u00a0Learn How to Buy a Used Car on Bad Credit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Often, dealerships will offer specials and promotions, so be on the look-out!<\/p>\n Right now, Auto Simple is offering one of the best promotions you’ll find anywhere!<\/p>\n Refer a friend to Auto Simple you get $200! And now, you could Get Your Car Paid Off too!<\/em><\/p>\n For example, in the last three months there were 90 referrals. So, you could have a 90 to 1 chance to win The Free Ride. That\u2019s pretty good odds!<\/em><\/p>\n Offer ends 7\/1\/17<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, enjoy this car-buying experience. Buying and owning your first car is a great experience, one that you hopefully remember fondly for the rest of your life. As promised, below are our favorite cars for new drivers.<\/p>\n If you are buying from a dealership, the payment and purchase should be very easy. After all questions are answered and the paperwork is signed, you will receive the keys and copies of all the documents. It\u2019s that easy.<\/p>\n In fact, you can leave the\u00a0Auto Simple<\/strong>\u00a0lot with a new pre-owned vehicle for\u00a0as low as $500 Down<\/strong>!<\/p>\n To ease your worries about purchasing a preowned vehicle, all\u00a0Auto Simple cars<\/a>\u00a0go through a\u00a0180-point inspection<\/strong>\u00a0and come with a\u00a0free CarFax report<\/strong>. We do our best to bring the vehicle back to the level like-new conditions, including touching up paint and removing dents.<\/p>\n Plus, we offer a\u00a06 Month\/6,000 Mile Powertrain Warranty<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on all of our Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you can return the vehicle within 48 hours\u2014no questions asked.<\/p>\n Here are some more tips for buying a used car:<\/strong><\/p>\n Once you find the perfect vehicle, avoid common driver mistakes by establishing good habits at the beginning of your driving career:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Auto Simple<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0wants to find you a car you love at a price you can afford. We carry a large selection of hand-picked, Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, all of which come with a free CarFax report and a 6 month\/6,000-mile powertrain warranty. We also own a private track for test driving!<\/p>\n With\u00a0locations<\/a>\u00a0in Cleveland, Chattanooga, Dayton, and a new store in Dalton, GA, we make it easy to walk away with your dream car.<\/p>\n If you have any questions, don\u2019t hesitate to speak with one of our\u00a0Online Specialists<\/a>\u00a0or give us a call:<\/p>\n Chattanooga, TN \u2013\u00a0(423) 551-3600<\/strong><\/p>\n Cleveland, TN \u2013\u00a0(423) 476-4600<\/strong><\/p>\n Dayton, TN \u2013\u00a0(423) 775-4600<\/strong><\/p>\n Dalton,\u00a0GA\u00a0\u2013 (706) 217-CARS (2277)<\/strong><\/p>\n Follow us on social media for more useful information on buying, selling, and maintaining cars:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Youtube<\/a>, and\u00a0Google+<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Learning how to drive and buying a new car are major life milestones. Perhaps you\u2019ve landed a new job? Maybe you\u2019ve just received your admissions letter and need a car for school? Whether you are young or old, your first time on the road can be scary and dangerous. If you aren\u2019t inheriting the family […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[83,163,172,262,263,264,10,386,387,605],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n3. Don\u2019t buy a used car from a private seller<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Look for Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Get a CarFax report (includes vehicle history and inspection reports)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Locate a respectable dealer<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Inspect the car, inside and out<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8. Secure financing (if necessary)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. Look for deals and special promotions<\/h3>\n
The Best Cars for New Drivers<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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