Buying your first car opens up a world of possibilities. You can say goodbye to relying on walking or public transport, you can sit comfortably and away from others while you travel, and road trips and vacation options around Burleson, Arlington, and Forth Worth are all on the table from that point on. With so many makes and models on the market, especially between new vehicles and pre-owned vehicles, it quickly can become overwhelming to first-time car buyers.
Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be difficult if you’re willing to put in a little work following this first-time car buyer guide we’ve compiled. We’ve included car budget tips, car loan basics, and other tips for first-time car buyers to help you find the right vehicle for your needs.
Determine What the Car is For
Are you purchasing a vehicle that will be used for work, such as hauling materials or towing? Will it just be from getting to and from your job and the store? Do you have a longer commute that takes you onto the highways?
Answering these questions can help you narrow your search to a smaller group of vehicles that can do the job required. If you have the funds and want to spend a little extra, added comforts, tech, and features are always nice to have. However, starting with what you need is paramount.
Determine the Tech and Safety Features You Need
Newer vehicles come equipped with the latest tech, comforts, and safety features to make every ride smoother. Some models and trims have more standard features than others, though you can often add features piece by piece to your vehicle. Regardless, you should set out lists of must-haves and nice-to-have features in your first vehicle. Some of these features can include:
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility
- Back-up cameras
- Lane assist
- Heated seats
- Power windows
- All-wheel drive (AWD)
You’ll have to go through the shorter list of vehicles to see which models have the features you need vs. the features you want, but it will help you immensely in the long run.
Set Your Budget
While it may be a bit dull, setting a budget for yourself will help narrow your search and help guide you to pick the right vehicle. An important thing to remember is that there are costs beyond just purchasing the sedan or SUV. You’ll have to factor in insurance, fuel or energy costs, maintenance, and likely monthly payments towards your car loan if you don’t purchase it outright at the outset.
Our finance center has tools you can use to get started.
How to Get Pre-Approved for a Car Loan
You can get pre-qualified for financing on our website to start the process early.
Car Payment Guide
Enter your information into our payment calculator to see what your monthly payments could look like.
Car Budget Tips
Our finance center can help you find the best rates when financing your first car. We will pair you with one of the lenders in our extensive network to make sure you find a monthly payment plan that works for your wallet. If you’ve inherited an older vehicle but are in the process of buying your first car, you can also trade in to lower the overall cost of a new vehicle. You can check your trade-in value with our helpful online tool.
Consider Pre-Owned Vehicles
If new vehicles command too high of a price tag, pre-owned vehicles are an easy way to save some money when buying your new vehicle. The only thing you need to consider is that what you see is what you get as far as features go. Pre-owned vehicles won’t have the latest tech, but they’ll drive you from A to B.
You should also research the pre-owned vehicle and consider the mileage. While pre-owned vehicles have service and maintenance done to get them ready to be back on the road, you can’t always know when a part may give out, leading to a repair bill.
You can also check out our vehicles under $20k to see if there are any vehicles that look perfect for your needs.
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
Choosing a certified pre-owned Volkswagen is similar to Goldilocks: you save money as its pre-owned, but you get a slightly newer vehicle that may have some of the features you want. Volkswagen certified pre-owned vehicles undergo a 112-point inspection to make sure they meet the requirements to earn the CPO title. You can rest easier knowing that larger repairs are further down the road, and CPO vehicles will often come with a warranty to cover some repairs and maintenance, taking that cost burden off of your shoulders.
Look for Specials, Offers, and Incentives
Our dealership has several specials and incentives you can take advantage of to lock in additional savings. These include:
- New vehicle specials
- Pre-owned specials
- Manufacturer rebates
- Volkswagen college grad program
- Military bonus program
- First responders deals
- And more.
We want you to get the car that meets your requirements and are happy to discuss any offers and incentives you can claim to lower the cost of your vehicle and/or your monthly payments.
Good Cars for First-Time Buyers
Volkswagen vehicles are reliable, dependable, and comfortable machines that will serve you well for many miles and years. For some inspiration, we recommend looking into these vehicles:
We have other Volkswagen models available, so be sure to see if there are any others that catch your eye. For example, if you want an electric vehicle, the Volkswagen ID.4 or the Volkswagen ID. Buzz are models you’ll want to research further.
Test Drive the Vehicles on Your List
By this point, you’ve ideally honed your list of vehicles down to a chosen few by following this first-time buyer guide. The last piece of the puzzle is to visit our Burleson Volkswagen dealership to test drive the vehicles you’re considering to see how they drive and handle. You can get a feel for the comfort of the vehicle, how it responds when driving, and ultimately, if you like it enough to drive it every day.
We’re here to help answer any questions and help you pick the right vehicle for your needs and budget, and we’ll work with you to get the best financing rates around, regardless of your credit score. Contact us or call us at 682-349-1946 to learn more and to set up a test drive!
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