What I Wish I knew when Buying my First Car

*This post is a collaboration with ATS Euromaster, but all thoughts and experiences are my own.

It is crazy to believe that this year, I’ve had a car for fifteen years! It feels like just yesterday that my first set of wheels became my gateway to freedom. Well, not quite freedom, but it did mean I could spend my summer at music festivals all over the UK, head out of a weekend and not rely on my parents or public transport. Best of all, it gave me an enormous amount of what I can only describe as ‘adulthood’; the feeling of what my future could look like with nothing but open roads ahead of me.

In fact, the lead up to that feeling wasn’t all fun and freedom, it had taken a lot of thinking, learning about car servicing and looking at many cars to make sure we were picking one that ticked all of the right boxes. This is where the ATS Euromaster I Wish I Knew Campaign comes into play. I’m going to share with you, after my 15 years of driving, what I wish I knew when I was purchasing my first car so you are better prepared than I was!

Insurance Costs

We all know that car insurance can cost a hell of a lot on your first car, but when I was looking, I was convinced this only really applied to boy racers! Being a girlie, I thought I could pick myself a nice little sports car to appease the speed demon in me. Well, I was wrong. 

I picked out a stunning Ford Street KA Luxury that was not only cute but had a wonderful 1.6i engine that made it go like a go-kart. Little did I know that being a first-time driver my insurance would be almost £2,000 a year despite being female!

Car Servicing

A lot of first-time buyers aren’t aware of how often to get their car serviced; a car service should be done yearly or when your car alerts you that it needs one. My first car wasn’t high tech enough to let me know when it needed a service so I would book one each year when I would take it into Ford for its MOT. 

There’s also more than one type of service; the Interim Service, the Full Service and the Major Service. Make sure you understand the difference between each before booking as you don’t want to get it wrong and if you don’t I’ve got a whole article on it here to help!

How to Handle a Road Accident

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of car damage. So, if you have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a car accident, there are specific steps you should take to ensure that you are protected. The first step is to call a car accident lawyer. A car accident lawyer will help you understand your rights and options and work with the insurance company to get you the best possible settlement. If you have any questions about what to do after a car accident, your car accident lawyer will be able to answer them. In addition, your car accident lawyer will also be able to help you file a personal injury claim if you have been injured in the accident. By hiring a car accident lawyer, you can ensure that you are taking all the necessary steps to protect yourself after a car accident.

Tyres!

I had no idea at all how to check tyres, to put air in them and, most of all, what to do when I needed new ones. Luckily, I had my dad on hand to teach me how to check tyres as this is something you should not only check when you own a car, but before you buy as you don’t want to fork out for a car and then new tyres!

One thing that I would never change though is buying a second-hand car! I totally fell in love with my Street KA and had I bought a brand new car I could never have owned one as they were no longer made at that point. 

Hopefully, these few tips help you to not make mistakes when buying your first car.