Buying your first car is a big financial commitment. It is important to carefully consider how much you can afford to pay for the car. Additionally you need to look at how the value of your car will change over time. Here are four basic things to consider.
How Much Do You Have to Spend on a Car?
There are so many creative ways to finance a car that you may fool yourself into thinking that you can afford to buy a more expensive car then you should. One basic rule of thumb is that you should finance your car for a three year term. If you cannot afford the payment that accompanies this amount, then you cannot afford the car. Your job situation will change, but should likely remain stable for around three years.
What Type of Car Do You Need?
There are some jobs that do require luxury cars, if yours does not steer away from luxury cars until you can pay for them in cash. Additionally do you need the SUV or will a small compact car suit your needs just as well. If you are a camper or haul stuff around for presentations, then the SUV would be the right choice for you. The smaller your car the more you will save on gas money and other costs. Your first car does not need to be your dream car.
Should I Buy New or Used?
When you buy a new car you immediately lose two or three thousand dollars. The car depreciates that much once you drive off of the lot. If you can afford to lose that much money, go ahead and buy new. If you buy a car between three and five years old you will avoid losing much in depreciation of value. If you are worried about buying a used car you can find cars with warranties available or cars that are certified by the dealers or makers of the car. One example of this is a certified pre-owned Lexus.
Should I Ever Lease a Car?
No. You should never lease a car. It is simply throwing money out of the window. If you decide to purchase the car at the end of the lease, you will end up spending more money than if you had purchased it originally. Additionally it is difficult to avoid the over mileage fees. If you can not afford the car payments on the car you want, then change your expectations. You may buy an older car to drive while you save up for your dream car.
