It’s an exciting time when you’re on the cusp of taking your driving test and are thinking ahead towards buying your first car. There’s no greater feeling than seizing that newfound freedom that you’ve worked so hard for, and with your own wheels, you’ll be able to hit the open road as soon as you have your license. If you’ve been learning to drive in one of the driving schools in Birmingham, then you’ll be spoilt for choice when car shopping, since there are plenty of reputable car dealers in the city and also plenty of used cars for sale from private sellers.
You might be weighing up your options; trying to decide what make, model and size car will suit you and your needs. Another thing that you’ll want to consider is whether you want to get an old or new car, as both have their benefits. This article will help you to decide whether an old or new vehicle will suit you best, by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of both, so read on to find out more.
Old car — Advantages
You might be dreaming about getting behind the wheel of a shiny new car, but not only are older cars cheaper to purchase, they can also prove cheaper to keep and maintain. With the help of a car diagnostic tool, you can easily monitor and address potential issues in older models. Obviously, the older a car is, the less it is going to cost, but this doesn’t mean that you’re going to land yourself an old banger on its last legs. There are plenty of older vehicles on the market that are in great condition, that might have only had one owner, have relatively low mileage, and can be efficiently maintained with a good car diagnostic tool. Sourcing Mitsubishi replacement parts or components for other popular models has become much easier and more affordable, making it practical to keep older cars running smoothly for years.
Not only will an older car come with a lower price tag, but it can also prove cheaper to keep in the long run. When you have a car of your own, it is a legal requirement to tax the vehicle before you get on the road. For all petrol and diesel cars that were manufactured in 2017 or later, this will require you to pay a fee of £140 a year. However, older vehicles are far cheaper to tax and in the case of some smaller engine vehicles, road tax may be free, but you will still have to register your vehicle annually on the GOV.UK website.
New car — advantages
As a new driver, you probably won’t be able to afford to buy a new car outright, but thankfully there are plenty of payment options available to you. For example, you could take out a lease on the car, which will mean that you can pay for the vehicle in monthly instalments but won’t own it. This will enable you to drive a better specification, higher-value car, without having to fork out a large amount of your own cash.
Additionally, you might be able to get a new car on finance, which will mean that you can pay in monthly instalments and will own the car at the end of your payment contract.
New cars are usually covered by a manufacturer warranty, which is an agreement that covers you for any unexpected faults that may occur after you drive away from the garage. This will usually last for a certain number of years, but this is dependent on the manufacturer. This is great peace of mind for new drivers since it can be costly when your car goes wrong!
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If you’re a new driver looking for a new vehicle then you’ve got an exciting journey ahead of you. It’s important to weigh up the car’s age, mileage and engine size, along with a whole host of other features, since these can have a great effect on the maintenance cost of the vehicle and on your insurance premium.