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Choosing a new car can be confusing, there are plenty of different considerations to make. To help you make a decision, focus on these seven ideas.
Assess your needs
Before you buy a new car you should spend a little bit of time thinking about your needs. Figuring out what you’re looking for will help you when you’re shopping around. Are you looking for a small or a large vehicle? How much storage space do you need? What models and brands do you have in mind? Which entertainment features are important to you? Answering questions like these will get you off to a great start.
Figure out your budget
When you’re buying a new car, it’s a good plan to set a budget. How much can you realistically spend on a vehicle? How much do you expect to pay on the running costs and maintenance? It’s important to figure out these details from the get-go. Running a car can be expensive, but there are ways that you can save money on your car. Here are a few key tips:
- Reduce your driving times where possible.
- Use apps to monitor and reduce your fuel usage.
- Consider purchasing a second-hand car.
- Keep up with maintenance work, (to avoid expense issues further down the line).
Safety features
A few of the best safety features for cars include autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping technology.
When you buy a new vehicle, it’s also worth checking the safety rating. Car safety ratings depend on four different factors, these are, ‘Measurements from dummies, survival space, airbags, and seat belt effectiveness,’ (Business Insider 2018).
The IIHS has six different tests to judge a vehicle’s safety rating. These include moderate impact and frontal crash tests. Using the test results, the IIHS assigns a rating of either ‘poor, marginal, acceptable or good’.
With the right safety features, you’ll reduce your chances of being in an accident. If you do find yourself in a collision you may need the support of car accident lawyers.
New or second hand
One of the most important decisions is choosing whether to buy a new car or a second-hand car. Many people prefer to be the first owner of the car, and perhaps it’s the more luxurious option. Having said that, there are lots of benefits to buying a second-hand car:
- When you buy a second-hand car, you’ll save plenty of money.
- You’ll also get a cheaper deal on your car insurance.
- You won’t take such a hit on the depreciation.
- Used cars don’t tend to have any hidden fees.
Eco-friendly
If you’re keen to be a responsible driver, you’ll want to think about eco-friendly driving habits. To reduce your carbon footprint, the best option is an electric car. So how exactly do electric cars work? Well, these cars plug into a charge point, drawing electricity out from the grid. EVs store electricity inside rechargeable batteries, these batteries then power the electric motor. Electric vehicles aren’t just great for the environment, there are many other advantages, including:
- EVs are high-performance vehicles, offering a smoother drive.
- You’ll save money (EVs don’t need fuel to operate).
- EVs don’t tend to need as much maintenance work compared to regular cars.
Insurance options
When you’re choosing a new car you’ll need to research your insurance options.The best thing to do is to shop around, compare prices, and look for discounts. There are plenty of different car insurance discounts that you might be eligible for, here are a few to look out for:
- Multi-car discount.
- Accident-free discount.
- Defensive driving discount.
- Electric/hybrid vehicle discount.
- Low mileage discount.
- Anti-theft device discount.
Selling your old car
When you’re purchasing a new car, you might be interested in selling or trading in your old one. So how do you part exchange your car? Once you’ve found a car you like, you can get a discount by offering up your existing vehicle. To help your car retain value, there are plenty of things that you can do:
- Keep up with your regular car maintenance checks.
- Protect your paintwork using a ceramic coating.
- Purchase a car with a slow depreciation rate.
- Keep the mileage down where possible.
Considerations like these will help you to choose your dream car. Remember, it’s best not to rush the decision. Take your time, and shop around for different models and car insurance packages.
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