Buying Your First Car Guide

Purchasing your first car is a significant step. It symbolises independence and opens up a world of possibilities. However, the process of buying your first car can feel daunting. This guide to buying your first car aims to demystify the process and provide you with the essential knowledge you need. When buying your first car guide becomes your best friend, you're well on your way to making a smart choice.

When buying your first car, you’re probably facing a few decisions and the struggle of managing a tight budget. Lucky for you Enterprise Motor Group understand what you’re going through. Here’s our quick guide to choosing the right vehicle for you. Including everything from your first car budget to first time car loan and general helpful tips to avoid being swayed by the car with the flashiest paint job and then finding you can’t afford to run it.

Find The Best First Car For You

There are a few different things to take into consideration when buying your first car. The initial steps should always be working out what car you need and what will suit your lifestyle.

What Do You Need Your First Car For

Firstly, it’s important to take into consideration just what you will be using the car for and what this means in terms of function and size. Your car needs to meet your needs in order to provide the best value for money.

For example, if you’re going to be going off-road then you’ll need to consider options for four-wheel drive. Or if you surf you might like to consider where you’re going to fit your surfboard and gear. Similarly, if you’re just looking for something to run around town you can probably focus on a smaller more manoeuvrable model.

Research, Research, Research

This step cannot be overstated when considering how to buy your first car. Online resources, car magazines, and reviews can provide valuable insights into different makes and models. When thinking about what to look for when buying a first car, it’s also important to research reliability ratings, safety features, and fuel efficiency. Look into the typical lifespan and any common problems of the models you’re considering. Another valuable research tool is our team at Enterprise Motor Group, believe it or not we once bought our first care and since then we’ve each seen thousands of people through our doors looking for their first car. Our team of experts can help you narrow down the search to whatever will suit you.

Inspect and Test Drive Your First Car

Never purchase a car without a thorough inspection and a test drive. During the test drive, pay attention to the car's handling, braking, and any unusual noises. This step is critical when looking at how to buy your first car.

Work Out Your First Car Budget

One crucial aspect of this first car buying guide is setting a realistic budget. When considering what constitutes good cars for a first car, you must understand the ongoing ownership expenses. When you set your budget to buy a car it’s easy to feel you have a good pile of cash to play with. But you also have some set up costs to take into consideration if you want to go from making a purchase to actually driving your car.

You’ll also need to factor in the running costs of the car in relation to the budget you have for fuel and day-to-day expenses. If you don’t plan ahead for costs like registration and servicing, then you could discover that you can’t afford to keep your car on the road.

Being aware of potential costs makes it possible to work out what you can afford to buy with the money you have to play with, effectively setting your first car budget. This will help you narrow down your choices and find the right make and model of car for you.

Check For a First Time Car Loan With No Credit

Navigating finance can seem complex, but don’t worry it’s a quick and easy step once you understand the process. Our experienced team here at Enterprise Motor Group is there to simplify it for you. This part of your first car buying guide is crucial. We'll walk you through each step, from pre-approval to finalising the loan. We'll explain the terms clearly, so you know exactly what you’re signing. We believe in transparency, and we want you to feel confident in your decision. We want to be your go-to resource for the guide to buying a first car, including the financial aspects.

Running costs of Your First Car

It’s easy to be tempted by the flashiest model of car available for your budget, but it’s much more important to look for fuel efficiency and lower running costs. Choosing a reliable and safe model of car is likely to pay off in the long run.

Fuel consumption figures by make and model are readily available online. Work out your monthly fuel budget and expected mileage, and then do some rough calculations to check out what you can afford.

Planning for Your First Cars Maintenance Costs

Choosing a cheaper car now can end up being a more expensive deal if you’re forced to spend a fortune on parts and servicing. There are some straightforward choices you can make to ensure you don’t invest in a car that’s going to become a financial burden.

Looking for a car with lower mileage can keep your maintenance costs down. Cars with over 300,000km on the clock are likely to be tired and ready to give up the ghost. Cars with over 180,000km are likely to have ongoing maintenance costs due to their age and the distance travelled. Ideally try to choose a car with mileage of less than 180,000 km in order to manage your running costs in the future.

When you do choose a car you should always get it fully inspected: inspection is important for understanding the general state of the engine and the brake performance. It can protect you from any hidden and costly surprises. Inspection will also allow you to check out when high cost maintenance like cambelt replacement needs to happen.

On-Road Costs

You also need to factor in the on-road costs such as warrant of fitness, registration and servicing. The car you buy should have a current warrant of fitness but it’s important to be aware of when this will be renewed and the cost of doing it. You may need to register the car if it’s due, and it will be important to service it regularly to look after the engine.

Insurance For Your First Car

Your car has to be insured in order to protect both you and the other users on the road. There are different levels of insurance and it will vary in cost depending on the car you choose. One of our team will be happy to talk you through the options, you can find the number at your closest branch here. The cost of insurance will need to be factored into your budget whether you pay upfront or in instalments.

Now that you’ve worked out key elements like mileage, fuel consumption, and potential insurance costs, you can work within these boundaries to find your first car.

Choosing a first car is an exciting process and will give you your independence, allowing you to get to yourself on the road and to where you want to go. By planning ahead and being practical about the purchase, you can ensure your money goes a long way. Some smart decisions can protect you from more cost in the long run and make sure you make a good investment for the longer term. Then you can just sit back and enjoy the drive.

If you’re getting ready to go car shopping and would like to talk about car loan options, visit or contact one of our branches or get started with a car search or finance application online today. We’ve helped thousands of Kiwis get on the road by providing them with a car loan that works with their budget.

Please note, this article does not represent personal financial advice.

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