Tips for buying your first car

April 05, 2012 by carwow staff

If you’ve just passed your test and started looking at buying your first car, without a doubt one of the most important things to consider is how much it will cost to insure – have a look at www.cancancover.com for some online quotes.

When buying a second hand car, you need to make sure that you are not being ripped off. It can be easy to commit to an old banger that looks great in a showroom, only for it to cost you thousands of pounds in the future.

To avoid this, follow our tips for buying your new car:

Servicing

If a car is more than three years old, it needs to have a valid MOT certificate. It is a bad idea to buy a car without an MOT, as the MOT is there to prove that the car is fit for use on the roads. If there is no MOT certificate, there must be a reason why the owner hasn’t paid the fee to get one – the car might not be fit to drive!

V5 Logbook

A V5 logbook is the paperwork that comes with the vehicle, which is always updated when the car undergoes any repairs. This allows you to have a full history of the car, and also proves that whoever is selling you the car actually owns the vehicle.

Bodywork and exterior.

Carry a magnet with you when you go to view cars – if it doesn’t stick to parts of the bodywork that look like they have been repaired, then they have most likely been repaired with a car body work filler . Check the car in different lights to see if there is any unevenness in paint colours or application, and look for rust and dents.

Drive it!

Take the car for a test drive – ensuring your insurance covers this first – and see how the car feels to drive. Make sure the brakes work well and the gears shift easily. Listen out for any strange noises from the exhaust, and check that there are no oil puddles in the place it has been parked.

Finally, always be aware of car sellers who simply want to get rid of a car that doesn’t work. If the price sounds too good to be true – it probably is! Buying your first car needn’t be a daunting experience if you stick to these tips. Happy driving!

This was a guets article from our supports Can Can Cover.