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Buying your first car is a hugely exciting experience. Everyone can remember what their first car was - and the places it took them - so the prospect of buying one will no doubt strike excitement into the hearts of many. 

HPL Motors has loads of cars which would suit a first-time driver, but what should you be considering before you buy? Let’s take a look. 

Insurance

If you’ve only done the bare minimum of research around first-time cars, you’ll know how important insurance costs are. For new drivers, insurance is one of the biggest costs to factor in, with many policies stretching into the thousands for those who have just passed their tests. 

It’s why picking a car with a smaller engine - and therefore a lower insurance group - is a wise idea. Fortunately, there are plenty of small-engined models currently available on HPL, so you’re spoiled for choice. 

Manual or automatic?

You’ll no doubt already know whether a manual or automatic car is for you depending on which test you’ve passed. Remember, if you’ve passed an automatic test, you’ll only be able to drive a car with an automatic gearbox. However, if you’ve completed your manual test, then you’re free to choose either. 

However, if you’ve passed your manual test, it may be a good idea to pick a manual gearbox car as it’ll give you more time to develop your three-pedal skills. 

Repair costs

Accidents are a part of life. Particularly when you’re setting out on the road for the first time on your own, making a mistake can be easy. Even if that’s a low-speed parking prang, you’re bound to have even a small issue after you’ve passed your test - it’s all a part of the learning process. 

So you may want to consider the repair costs of any potential new car that you’re looking at. Smaller, less expensive models will be cheaper to repair in the event of an accident, while popular cars - like the Ford Fiesta - will be less expensive to fix because more replacement parts are available. 

Diesel or petrol?

The type of fuel you pick will no doubt depend on what type of driving you’ll be doing. Doing a long commute or lots of motorway miles? This is where a diesel is most efficient and where it’ll be able to return the best possible cost savings. 

However, most first-time drivers opt for a petrol-powered car. They’re often cheaper than their diesel counterparts and they’re usually less powerful, which makes them cheaper to insure. 

What equipment do you want?

It’s worth thinking about any in-car features that you want from your first car. For instance, would you like Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream your music and calls through the car’s system, or do you need cruise control for long journeys?

It could be worth drafting up a wish list before going to see any prospective cars. Remember, you might have to compromise in order to secure yourself a car, but it can’t harm to get an idea of what you’d like beforehand.