Ways to Cut Costs On Your First Car

Whether your 17 or 60, passing your driving test is always an exciting time. It can, however, also be a very expensive one.

Driving doesn’t come cheap these days, and not only will you need to be a set of wheels to begin with, you’ll also have to fork out for petrol just to run the thing, then there’s maintenance, tax and the dreaded first insurance quote.

In short, cars are expensive things, but when everything runs correctly and you’ve got the right deals, they can be both liberating and rewarding. If you’re about to make your first purchase, consider some of these tips to set you on your way.

Buy Second Hand

Unless you have a pot of cash locked away for you, or a family member’s willing to fork out for a first handcar, then the golden rule is to buy second hand. That doesn’t mean heading off down to the nearest dealership either, you really need to take some time. Listen to friend’s advice about where they got their car from and consider plenty of options; it’s a big purchase after all. Take a look at this weeks Auto Trader magazine or search online for ‘used cars’ and look through the results. You could even find a bargain on Ebay!

Consider Third Party Fire and Theft

If you’re 18-21, then the chances are that your car insurance could well be more expensive than your actual car, especially if you want fully comprehensive insurance. However, it’s worth noting that if your car doesn’t have much value then Third Party Fire and Theft might be best for you.

You won’t get a payout if you crash, or write your car off – but you’re not intending to crash are you? Third Party Fire and Theft is the minimum amount of cover by law, and it will only pay out if your car is vandalised through theft or damaged by fire, but it is significantly cheaper than a fully comprehensive policy.

Shop Around for Car Insurance

When it comes for searching for car insurance, the are hundreds of insurers out there all vying for your cash, so there’s absolutely no way you should take the first quote. Using the Internet is the simplest way to find a good quote – and you may find it exceedingly rewarding.

Comparison websites are fine to pick through, but it is not always recommended to buy through one. Instead, take the quote from the comparison website and phone the insurance provider who is prepared to give you the best-priced policy. Once you’re on the phone, see if you can haggle them down to get you a better deal. Remember – they want your money! Take a look at Co-operative Insurance for car insurance quotes.

Buy Your Petrol From the Supermarket

Now you’ve got your car on the road, you’ll need to run the thing, which means expensive petrol! You’ll often find that your nearest superstore has the cheapest fuel in the area. What’s more, you can combine your weekly shop with filling up to save time.

Additionally the biggest supermarket chains have credit cards that give you points that convert to money off on petrol or in store. Buy your petrol on such a card and watch your points stack up; you should be getting cash back in the form of tokens in no time – just make sure you pay that card off each month!