Buying your own car can seem very intimidating, but in the long run the hard work pays off. The result doesn’t just include a car; once completed, the process yields more responsibility, a great opportunity to show independence, and the satisfaction that occurs when completing a large task. This article was my step by step process of how I bought my own car.

Find a job: Saving money is necessary in life, especially when wanting to buy your own car. Finding a job is a great way to start saving, especially during these times as high schoolers. So many more job opportunities are available. I’ve found that it has been easier to save money during the pandemic due to not going out as much. Starting to save as early as possible will expand the range of cars that you could possibly purchase when the time comes. It will also teach you how to save, which is a very crucial life skill.

Talk to peers and family members about your interest in a car: Once you know that you want to buy a car, talk to your parents about the costs and what they will contribute (insurance costs, gas, DMV costs, license plates, etc.). Your parents have gone through this process before, so they know what to avoid, as well as what to look for once you decide to start looking on websites. Along with this, they may be able to help you with meeting dealership representatives or salesmen.Your friends can also help: although many of them might not have experience, they can help by noticing cars that are for sale, as well as talking to their peers about cars that might be available.

Know what you are looking for: Most people have dream cars, or at least cars that interest them more than others. There are hundreds of brands and styles of vehicles out there, and there are cars that are “better” than others. Brands to look for when searching for cars are European or Japanese made automobiles, such as Toyota, Honda, Volvo, and Mazda. Other brands are good too but not as reliable and generally don’t last as long as foreign cars would. “There are a number of key aspects that should be closely researched when trying to decide between an American and foreign vehicle, including quality, price, style, and fuel efficiency. In the past, American vehicles tended to fall behind foreign cars, especially Japanese and German, in all four categories.” – Insurify (Micaela Allen 2017).

Start searching the web: Starting to look online is a big step in this process. At first, it can seem exciting: finding cool cars that look great online, and looking at what may seem like great deals. But most of those options aren’t always what they seem. Tons of websites aid in looking for cars, but not all of them are very practical. Car Gurus is a great site that helps narrow your search by adjusting the price, year, and miles of the car you are looking for. Craigslist can be a good app as well, but it takes a little longer to find exactly what you want with a reliable seller. Websites are a great way to search, but another way is just by getting the word out that you’re looking. There are lots of people just around Charlottesville selling cars, and buying from an owner you know is way easier than buying from a stranger.

Meet with possible sellers: A hard, but crucial part of this procedure is meeting with sellers. I met with 5 different people before I finally settled on a car. A major lesson I learned was to not get your mindset on the first thing you find. There are so many options out there, and if you are stuck on the first thing you see, you’ll miss out on a lot of great deals. When meeting with sellers, go with someone who knows a little more about cars. Ask questions like: how long have you had this car? When was the last time you changed the tires? Has it had any mechanical problems in the past 6 months? What is the gas mileage? And a crucial question: has the car ever been in an accident? The answers to these questions should play a vital role in your decision about the car.

Insurance and licensing: Once you have completed these steps, and before you actually buy a car, you need to talk to your parents or guardian about insurance. You might know about insurance already, but during this process you will learn a lot more. Briann Gunn, an insurance agent from State Farm said, “Insurance is expensive for younger drivers. Young and inexperienced drivers are much more likely to be involved in accidents and hence cost the insurance company more during the claims process. There are ways however to reduce your insurance premiums.” He adds that “by driving a less valuable vehicle your insurance premiums will be correspondingly lower.” These are all factors that you should think about before buying your car so that your insurance will cost less.

Getting out money and finally purchasing YOUR car: When you have found a car that fits all your needs and, hopefully, wants, and you have handled the insurance, it is your time to shine. You should go to the bank and either get out cash or a cashiers check with the amount of money that you and the seller agreed on, and meet the seller with one or two other people to make the deal. This part is exciting and fun because you go without a car, and leave with your very own! The process once you’re with the seller can seem a little confusing; it includes paperwork, signing contracts, and transferring the car title (during this, I let my mom read the paperwork for me).

Drive and Be Safe!: You can finally enjoy your very own car, and drive anywhere you please (safely and with your parent’s permission). Remember to be careful on the road, and have fun!