Buying Your First Car

You just got your license and it’s time to get yourself a pair of wheels to call your own. Or maybe you’ve had your license for a while, but you just put the old hand-me-down beater you used to drive out to pasture. The process of buying your first car can be simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. Let me offer a few tips that will help make this whole experience a little easier, as well as less stressful.

Tips for Buying a Car the First Time

• Assess your needs: before you start searching for a vehicle, think about what you use your car for. Are you just driving to the office that’s ten miles away, or do you have a daily two-hour commute? Are you just using the car, or do you have passenger needs? Do you need to haul stuff? How long are you planning to keep the car for? Asking these kinds of questions can help you determine what type kind of car you want, and if you want something with a little less wear on it, or something with a little more. Cox Chevy’s used online inventory allows you to easily search by terms that matter to you.
• What are your financial capabilities: how much are you able to pay a month for a car loan? Are you willing to use some of your savings as a down payment? A down payment is a good idea because it will lower your monthly payments, as well as the total amount you owe on the vehicle. Be sure to apply for financing early, too, to avoid hitches in getting your car. You can apply for financing online for our dealership too.  
• Look at the vehicle history report: Cox provides AutoCheck vehicle history reports free of charge whenever possible. Looking at AutoCheck is your best way to know what a car has been through in the past, so as accidents and other damage. It will also record maintenance that has been done in a shop, a good sign if a vehicle has been taken care of well or not. Also look at how hard a vehicle has been driven by comparing incurred mileage with the vehicle’s different ownership periods. A vehicle that’s been driven harder may not last as long as one that hasn’t.
• Check the car’s current value: sources like Kelley’s Blue Book can give you a rough estimate of what different vehicles that interest you are worth.
• Don’t feel pressured: after all, there is no obligation until you agree to the purchase. Feel free to ask more questions or request an additional viewing or test drive.