Choosing your first car is tough.  It does not matter if you are 16 or 30 and buying a car for the first time.  There will be numerous questions that you have.  The biggest question is what type of used car to buy?  The second question is in what condition should you buy it?

Used cars tend to have mechanical issues or will present mechanical issues earlier than buying a new car.  Unfortunately for someone buying their first car the less expensive option is buying used.  A person buying a vehicle for the first time may not have a long credit history, which also makes buying a new car more difficult.  Having said that, we can now look at picking your first used car and what questions you might have.

Today there are a number of different styles of used cars on the market.  You have fuel economy cars, hybrid cars, or your standard vehicle.  Hybrid cars, even used can be more expensive to purchase because they will require more expensive maintenance, and their value started out higher than your regular car.

This brings us to an important point.  Picking your first used car is generally more about budget than preference.  Any car you choose must fit within your budget and needs.  Obviously the car you buy should be safe and in working order; however your budget will determine what type of working order that will be.

How to Choose the Car:

·    Car Mileage
·    Gas Mileage
·    Safety Features
·    Amount of Space
·    Maintenance costs
·    Repair costs
·    Looks
·    Added Accessories

The list above gives you a good idea of what to look for when choosing a used car.  They are listed in the typical order of importance.  This is how most individuals think about buying a used car.  However, you might rate safety as more important than the car mileage, and in fact it can be part of safety concerns.  Higher car mileage tends to mean the vehicle will break down or at least require more repairs than lower mileage.

As you can see, all aspects of choosing a car are inner linked.  When buying a used car you want to get the best condition you can afford.  You also want to buy the newest of the used cars you can afford.  For example you have a Toyota 2005 model and a 2006 model.  If the 2006 model has less mileage, is in similar or better repair, and has a very slight price difference the 2006 is a better option.

Picking your first used car can be about the manufacturer and model vehicle.  You may choose the car based on the looks or because you like the car.  That’s fine, just make sure before you purchase any vehicle that you have read reviews and potential problems the car may have.  For example Volkswagen are great cars, but expensive to repair over something like Honda.  Honda has hybrid cars which may be something you are interested in.  This type of information is important to your decision.