In you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you may know exactly which car you want to buy. It may be your dream car, or it might just be anything that goes. Whatever your next car will be, there are a few factors you could consider before you start looking. Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases that you will make and it’s important that the car you buy suits your needs, is fit for purpose and is kind to your pocket too. The guide below looks at the top 5 question to ask yourself before buying your next car.
What’s Your Budget?
Before you commit to getting a car, the first thing you should do before any big financial commitment is check your finances. If you’re saving for a car or are choosing to finance a car, you should start by working out how much you can put towards your savings or finance a month. The easiest way to do this is to consider your monthly income and minus any expenditure and then see how much is left over. It’s important that you can meet each and every finance payment so your budget should be realistic and affordable.
Can You Get A Car On Finance?
If you’ve got your heart set on the car you want and are wondering how to fund it, car finance is a great way to spread the cost. It’s worth remembering though that car finance is never guaranteed, and you may want to check your eligibility for car finance first to make sure you meet the lenders criteria. Your credit score can have a big impact on your ability to get approved for finance and also your interest rate offered. If your credit score is low, you could consider increasing your score before you start applying to help get you a better deal.
How Much Space Do You Need?
Next up, you should consider how much space within the vehicle, if you have a large family, you may be looking for a used 7 seater car on finance or if you’re typically driving around on your own, then a small city car could be better suited. Your need for space and equipment can also make it easier to shop for different body styles. Nowadays there’s so much choice when it comes to body styles, from superminis to SUV’s, it can be hard to know which is best.
How Often Do You Drive And How Far?
Buying a car isn’t just about how good you’re going to look on the roads and getting a car that is fit for purpose is really important. Think about how many trips you will make in your car each day and the distance of each trip. If you typically use your car for short journeys around town then a small, cheap-to-run city car would be ideal! If you cover a lot of miles each week and cover many miles, a car with good MPG can help to save you money on fuel costs. Different car types can be better suited to different types of driving so it’s worth comparing cars in your budget before you commit to getting finance.
Which Fuel Type Is Best?
There are so many different fuel types to choose from now and it can be hard to know which is best for you. Your budget and mileage can be two factors which can help to determine which fuel type is best. Typically, hybrid and electric cars are better suited to shorter and less frequent journeys as they benefit from emission free driving and have a limited range. They do tend to be a bit more expensive though and your best option may be spreading the cost with electric and hybrid finance instead. Diesel cars are great for longer journeys, but the petrol and diesel ban in 2030 may put you off due to their impact on the environment. Petrol cars can be cheap to buy and run and are usually the most popular amongst UK drivers.