Top Tips for Buying your First Family Car

Your family has grown and you need to get practical. Eradicate any thoughts on buying a convertible or a sports car, what you need now is a good wholesome family car that sits at least four, plus room for baggage. Hopefully, you’ll have a dealership near you that you feel you can trust to find you your perfect family car. Your local dealership may even have software in place to help them see what the best options for you and your family will be, as well as offering any additional help that will make you feel that they have taken your requirements seriously and truly found you the option that will work for you. So now you’re on the lookout for a family car, consider these handy tips before you put any money down.

Safety first

The chances are it already is, but safety should be at the forefront of your mind when it comes to buying your family car. Look at cars that have a high safety rating, and ask if it has anti-lock brakes and a latch system for car seats.

Size it up

Space becomes a real commodity when you’re looking for your first family car. You have to take into account it will never be just you in the car, especially if you have a baby at home. Chances are that you will have groceries, a car seat, toys, gadgets, pets, luggage, a stroller, and so on. Make sure you take along your stroller with you when it comes to car viewing as the last thing you want to find out is that the boots are not big enough. In case the baby is yet to arrive and you haven’t purchased the seat or the stroller, consider buying from Nuna (redirect to Nuna here) or a similar brand that specializes in making baby products. This is so that you wouldn’t have to worry about any car you buy, as their product would usually fit in any vehicle.

Practicality

We are all drawn to the sporty cars with bucket seats and body kits. You need to consider the practicality of the car, consider what you will be using the vehicle for on a day-to-day basis, and remember that the car seat needs to fit in the back, and the easier your access the easier your journey will be. Plus, consider your other needs. For instance, if you plan on going on family road trips, a rugged vehicle like Dodge Ram 1500 with proper truck bed covers (https://www.peragon.com/shop/covers/Dodge/Ram%201500) might be best suited. So, think about the practicality of the vehicle before your purchase one.

Go green

The cost of living is continually on the rise, and so is the price of fuel. So when it comes to deciding which family car to have, find out the CO2 emission and the combined MPG. A low CO2 should hopefully meant you pay less road tax, and the higher the MPG the less time you’ll spend at the fuel pumps.

Be a style icon

It’s lower on the list, but no less important. Nobody wants to really drive a mummy wagon, and just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you can’t have a stylish car. There are plenty of practical and stylish cars on the market so do not simply settle for a car that ticks all of the above boxes. Set aside some time to do a little research and see if you can find yourself a stylish family car.

Get a great deal

Don’t think the only place available to buy your family car is directly through a dealership. If you research online you can find a few companies such as Autohouse, who offer new car deals, and you could end up buying a brand new car with a huge discount attached.

Infographic created by Capital Auto Auction, an auto auction company