What to Check for When Buying Your First Car

 

Buying your first car is exciting. It can also feel like a lot to take in, especially when you are looking at used cars and do not know what you should be checking.

It is easy to get caught up in the colour, design, price, or the way the car looks in pictures. But those things are only part of the decision. The outer appearance of the car might be flawless but it may have mechanical issues that can cost dearly in the future. Before you purchase your first car, think about the various aspects including its condition and running costs, as well as insurance and comfort of driving. Getting some basic knowledge through an Automatic driving school southwest London can also make it easier for a new driver to understand the controls and feel more confident when choosing and driving a first car.

Start With a Budget

Before you start looking at cars, work out how much you can realistically afford.

It is tempting to use your entire budget on the purchase price, but remember that the costs do not stop once you have bought the car.

You may need more cash for things like:

·         Insurance

·         Fuel

·         MOT

·         Servicing

·         Repairs

·         Tyres

·         Road Tax

·         Parking

·         Breakdown Cover

It is worth keeping something back to go towards any unexpected repairs. Even a car that seems to be in good condition can need attention after you buy it.

Think About What You Actually Need

Your first car does not have to be your dream car. It just needs to suit your everyday life.

Consider which location you will be using the vehicle. If you will be driving through busy areas then a compact vehicle is more suitable. You would require a larger vehicle if you do often have to transport a lot of luggage. It may help to ask yourself some basic questions, including:

·         How many times will I use the vehicle?

·         Where will I normally drive?

·         Will I be using it mainly for long trips or short trips?

·         Do I need an automatic or manual?

·         How important is fuel economy?

·         Can I afford the insurance?

These questions can quickly narrow down your choices.

Check the Age of the Car

The age of a used car matters, but it should not be the only thing you look at.

If a used car is taken care of properly, it can be a better buy compared to a new car that has suffered neglect. Check the date of registration and make an age versus condition comparison on that vehicle. If the car is several years old, some normal wear and tear should be expected. What matters is whether that wear seems reasonable for its age.

Look Carefully at the Mileage

Mileage is often one of the first numbers buyers check, but a low mileage figure does not automatically mean you have found a better car.

A car with higher mileage may have been driven regularly and maintained properly. Another car with very low mileage may have spent long periods sitting unused.

Try to compare the mileage with the:

·         Age of the car

·         MOT history

·         Service records

·         General condition

·         Previous maintenance

The mileage should also make sense when you look at the rest of the vehicle's history.

Check the MOT History

The MOT history is worth checking before you even arrange to see the car.

It can give you an idea of problems the vehicle has had in previous years. Look through the history rather than just checking whether the current MOT is valid.

Pay attention to repeated advisories or failures involving things such as brakes, tyres, suspension, steering, corrosion, or emissions.

One old advisory does not necessarily mean the car is a bad buy. However, seeing the same type of problem appear again and again is something you should take seriously.

Ask for the Service History

A car that has been regularly serviced is usually easier to understand than one with little or no maintenance information.

Ask the seller what servicing has been carried out and whether they have receipts, invoices, or service records.

Find out when important maintenance was last done. Depending on the car, this could include work on the timing belt, clutch, brakes, battery, tyres, or other major components.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. You are spending your money, so it is reasonable to want clear answers.

Take Your Time Looking at the Bodywork

When you see the car, do not just walk around it once and decide that it looks good.

Look at each panel carefully and, if possible, inspect the car in daylight.

Check for:

·         Scratches

·         Dents

·         Rust

·         Cracked lights

·         Damaged mirrors

·         Uneven panel gaps

·         Different shades of paint

A difference in paint colour or uneven gaps between panels could sometimes suggest previous accident repairs.

That does not automatically mean you should walk away, but you should find out what happened.

Look for Rust

Rust is another thing that is easy to miss when you are excited about buying a car.

Have a close look around the wheel arches, doors, sills, boot area, and other exposed parts of the body.

Also pay attention to the underside of the car if you can safely inspect it.

A small amount of surface rust may not be a major concern, but significant corrosion can become expensive and, in serious cases, affect the structure of the vehicle.

Check the Tyres

Take a look at all four tyres rather than assuming they are fine.

Check for:

·         Uneven tread wear

·         Cuts

·         Cracks

·         Bulges

·         Excessive wear

·         General signs of damage

Uneven wear can sometimes point to problems with the vehicle's alignment, suspension, or steering.

Tyres are also an expense that you may need to deal with soon after buying the car, so check their condition before agreeing on a price.

Look at the Wheels

Have a look at the wheels as well.

Kerbs and potholes can cause damage that is not always obvious at first glance. Look for deep scrapes, cracks, bends, or signs of corrosion.

If a wheel looks badly damaged, ask about it before buying the car.

Open the Bonnet

You do not need to be a trained mechanic to carry out a basic under-the-bonnet check.

Look for anything that immediately seems unusual, such as obvious leaks, damaged hoses, loose components, or a large amount of oil around the engine.

Check the fluid levels where appropriate and look at the general condition of the engine bay.

You are not trying to diagnose the entire engine yourself. The idea is simply to look for obvious warning signs.

Try to See the Car With a Cold Engine

One useful tip when viewing a used car is to see it before the engine has been warmed up.

A cold start can sometimes reveal problems that are less obvious once the engine is warm.

Listen when the car starts. Pay attention to long cranking, strange rattling, knocking, excessive vibration, or warning lights that remain on.

The engine should start without anything that seems seriously unusual.

Pay Attention to the Exhaust

Look at the exhaust when the engine starts and while you are driving.

A little condensation can be normal, particularly in colder conditions. However, persistent excessive smoke or other unusual exhaust behaviour deserves further investigation.

Do not simply accept a seller's explanation that something is "normal" without checking it properly.

Check the Interior

The inside of the car can tell you a lot about how it has been treated.

Look at the seats, carpets, dashboard, steering wheel, gear selector, pedals, door trims, and boot.

Look for indications of major damage, odd odors, wetness, and/or discoloration. If you smell something moldy or wet, there may be a water leak.

Also compare the amount of wear inside the car with the claimed mileage. If the interior looks extremely worn for a supposedly low-mileage vehicle, it is worth asking questions.

Test All the Controls

Once you are inside the car, test as many things as you can.

Try the:

·         Windows

·         Central locking

·         Headlights

·         Indicators

·         Hazard lights

·         Heating

·         Air conditioning

·         Interior lights

·         Infotainment system

·         Parking sensors

·         Reversing camera

It is much easier to find out about a faulty feature before buying the car than after you have taken it home.

Pay Attention to the Dashboard

Before starting the engine, look at the dashboard warning lights.

They normally appear during the initial checks and many should disappear once the engine is running.

If a warning light stays on, find out exactly what it means.

Do not ignore it just because the car seems to drive normally.

Test the Brakes Properly

During the test drive, pay attention to the brakes.

You should have a sense of predictability about the way they work, and they should instil confidence in you whenever you reduce your speed.

Notice whether the car:

·         Pulls to one side

·         Vibrates under braking

·         Makes grinding noises

·         Has a soft brake pedal

·         Requires unusually long pedal travel

Brake problems are not something to overlook. They can be expensive to repair and are obviously important for safety.

Check How the Steering Feels

The steering should feel controlled and consistent.

See if you can feel any vibrations in the steering wheel while you are driving. If you feel that the steering wheel shakes or the car swerves either to left or right, note that.

Steering issues can in some cases hint at a relatively straightforward issue of wheel misalignment, and in other cases at suspension issues or other mechanical issues.

How is the Gearbox Performing?

The gearbox itself should feel fairly smooth.

In case of driving a manual car, check whether the gear engagement is sound and whether you hear any strange noises. In addition, think about how the clutch behaves and if you feel any slippage.

With an automatic car, check that the car moves into drive and reverse properly and that gear changes do not feel excessively harsh or delayed.

Gearbox repairs can be expensive, so anything unusual should be checked before you buy.

Take a Proper Test Drive

A quick drive around the block is not enough to get a real feel for a car.

Drive in different situations where it is safe and legal to do so. Try normal roads, slower traffic, parking, reversing, braking, and acceleration.

You want to know how the car feels in everyday driving, not just whether it starts and moves.

Also think about your comfort. Can you see clearly? Can you reach the controls easily? Do you feel comfortable with the pedals and steering position?

Your first car should feel manageable, not difficult to control.

Turn the Music Off and Listen

During the test drive, keep the radio off for a while.

This gives you a chance to hear the vehicle properly.

Listen for strange sounds such as:

·         Clunks over bumps

·         Grinding

·         Rattling

·         Clicking when turning

·         Humming

·         Whining

Try to notice exactly when the noise happens. You might hear a noise that occurs only when you are braking, accelerating, making turns, or driving over bumps.

Verify a Car's History

Do not rely only on the seller's statements about the car.

Make a proper check to ensure that everything matches what you have been told.

Look into the following aspects:

·         MOT history

·         Mileage records

·         Number of previous owners

·         Service history

·         Current financial obligations

·         Records of thefts

·         Details of previous write-off situations

A background check might help you learn a lot of information that you would not know from the regular inspection.

Compare the data provided by the seller with the information about the car available in the documentation.

If something looks different or you cannot get a clear explanation for a mismatch, do not ignore it.

It is much better to pause the purchase than discover a serious problem later.

Ask Why the Owner Is Selling

It is a simple question, but it can still be useful.

Ask the seller why they are selling the car.

There are plenty of perfectly normal reasons. They may be buying another vehicle, moving somewhere, or simply no longer need the car.

What matters is whether the answer makes sense and stays consistent when you ask about the vehicle.

Never Let Yourself Be Rushed

Buying your first car can make you feel like you have to act quickly, especially when a seller tells you someone else is interested.

Do not let that pressure make the decision for you.

Take your time. Check the paperwork. Inspect the car. Ask questions. Think about the costs.

A good car will not become a bad car just because you take an extra day to think about it.

Check Insurance Before You Buy

This is particularly important for new drivers.

Insurance prices can vary a lot between different cars, even when the vehicles have similar prices.

Get an insurance quote before you commit to buying a particular car. It is better to find out the cost beforehand than to discover later that the vehicle is far more expensive to insure than you expected.

Look at the Running Costs

Think about what the car will cost you every month, not just what it costs to buy.

Look at the likely costs of:

·         Fuel

·         Insurance

·         Servicing

·         Tyres

·         Repairs

·         Replacement parts

Sometimes spending a little more on a reliable, economical car can work out better in the long run.

Think About Safety

Safety should be high on your list when choosing your first car.

Look at the safety equipment available on the particular vehicle you are considering.

Depending on the make, model, and year of manufacture, the car can come with features like airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, parking sensors, reversing cameras, and other similar amenities.

Do not choose a vehicle because of the price. Think about how well it will protect you and how confident you feel driving it.

Check What Comes With the Car

Before you leave the seller, check what is actually included.

Look in the boot for equipment such as a spare wheel, jack, wheel tools, or other items supplied with the car.

Some newer vehicles may not have a traditional spare wheel, so it is useful to know what you are getting.

Also ask about keys. If the car normally comes with more than one key, find out whether the seller has them all.

Get an Independent Inspection

There is nothing wrong with admitting that you do not know enough about cars to spot every problem.

An independent mechanic can conduct an inspection of a vehicle and find problems that might not be visible during a regular inspection. Inspection could divulge some of the underperforming parts of the vehicle like the brakes and the engine. There might be some additional expense involved but this could help to economize in the future.

Compare More Than One Car

Don't settle for one car from the beginning.

Look at a few different vehicles and compare their condition, history, mileage, price, insurance, and running costs.

After seeing several cars, you will usually have a much better idea of what represents good value.

You may even find that the car you initially liked the most is not actually the best choice.

Watch for Warning Signs

Sometimes your own instincts can tell you something is not right.

Be cautious if the seller avoids straightforward questions, refuses an independent inspection, cannot provide reasonable paperwork, or tries to rush you into paying.

The same applies if the car has several unexplained faults or the information you are given keeps changing.

You do not have to buy a car just because you have travelled to see it.

Walking away is always an option.

Do Not Be Distracted by a Shiny Appearance

A clean, polished car can make a strong first impression.

But a good-looking exterior does not tell you what is happening underneath.

A car with a few small cosmetic marks but a strong maintenance history may be a much better choice than one that looks perfect but has mechanical problems.

While focusing on the looks, pay attention to some important aspects you need to consider before making your purchase.

Think About How The Car Feels

Once you have gone through all the technical and other aspects of the car, it’s time to check how the car rides.

Can you see well from inside?

Are you able to reach the controls easily?

Is the car easy to park?

Is the car big enough to drive easily?

All these factors are important, especially when you are acquiring driving skills.

Final Thoughts

Purchasing your first car does not necessarily mean worrying and stressing out, however, it is recommended to take your time before making the decision.

Do not judge a car only by its price, appearance, or mileage. Check its history, inspect the bodywork, look at the tyres, test the brakes and gearbox, try all the controls, and take a proper test drive.

Most importantly, make sure you understand the costs of owning the car after you buy it. Insurance, fuel, servicing, repairs, and tyres can all add up.

You do not need to know everything about cars before buying your first one. You just need to be patient, ask sensible questions, check the important details, and get professional help when something is beyond your knowledge.

A careful decision now can save you a lot of money and frustration later — and it can make your first experience of owning a car much more enjoyable.