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First Car Problems: How to afford to get on the road once you’ve passed your test

Young driver

You’ve just passed your driving test – congratulations! Now it’s time to take your first step into the world of car buying. However, the cost of a new car and car insurance for someone under the age of 25 can be expensive. We advise you start looking at second-hand vehicles to cut down the cost and take that first step.

There is a lot involved when it comes to owning a car, getting out on the road and becoming a good driver. No matter what your situation may be, here’s a quick guide on what you should be looking out for.

  1. Pick a cheap car to insure as a young driver

When it comes to buying your first car, your insurance is, of course, one of the biggest factors. All cars on the market are part of 50 different car insurance groups – the cheapest cars to insure can be found in groups one to five.

  1. Consider a black box policy

Also known as telematics insurance, black box car insurance uses an app or small device installed in your car to monitor your driving behaviour. Black box insurance can help young drivers to save money on their insurance. It helps to cut the cost of insurance as insurers are able to base the cost of your insurance on how safe you drive, instead of assuming every young driver is at a higher risk of making a claim.

  1. Stay clear of car modifications

Car modifications – such as alloy wheels or body kits – are often appealing to young drivers if they want to personalise their standard looking car. However, you should avoid them if you are looking to get the best price for your insurance and potentially save some money. Modifications are known to increase premiums by hundreds of pounds.

  1. Pay per year, not per month

If you can afford it, paying per year rather than per month can be much cheaper. Although staggering the payments throughout the year can be tempting, you can avoid the monthly interest charges, therefore, saving you a substantial amount.

To ensure that your monthly or yearly payments stay down you need to be a careful driver and build up your no claims, which over time could save you as much as 75%.

  1. Increase your car’s security and limit risk

Having your car broken into is hard enough to deal with, but you’ll also have to contend with paying the excess and possibly waving goodbye to a no claims bonus. So you want to ensure your car is safe.

In an ideal world, we would all love to have our own garage or driveway to make parking that little bit safer, but the realistic option for most of us is on street parking. Security can be improved by fitting a motion detector and making sure you park in a well-lit area. Black box insurance can also help with this, as these devices track your GPS – so if your car is stolen your insurance provider may be able to help you find it again.

It’s not uncommon to not be able to afford your own car straight away. There’s a lot you need to think about that will require some careful planning and saving. With that being said, you’re going to want to get behind your own set of wheels as soon as your pass. Use our tips and save well in advance and you could be on your way to affording your very own car.

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