In today’s time, buying a car has become a need, and thousands of people fulfill their dream of buying their first car every year. But seeing more than one model and many features present in the market, it is bound to be confused by anyone.

If you are also planning to buy a car for the first time, then this guide will prove to be very beneficial for you. Here we will discuss 10 important points, so that you can choose the right car according to budget, features, mileage and need.

Guess the budget correctly

It is most important to decide your budget before purchasing a car.
In addition to the price of the car, also add EMI, insurance, maintenance and fuel expenses.
According to experts, the total monthly expenditure on the car should not exceed 25% of your income.

These cars can be found in a budget up to Rs 12 lakh:
Maruti Brezza
Hyundai venue
Tata Nexon
Grand Vitara
Honda Elevate

Along with on-road price, check dealership discounts and offers.

Take a new car or old? (New vs used car)

If your budget is limited, a pre-and-on-apes can be a good option.
According to Spinny report, 76% of the people who buy cars are giving priority to the old car.
It would be prudent to buy a new car after learning driving.

New Car: Latest features, better safety, warranty, low maintenance
Old Car: Cheap, Register, more variety, fast upgrade

Petrol, Diesel, CNG or Electric – Which option is the best?

If your daily journey is more than 50km, then CNG or Electric (EV) will be better.
Diesel car has low running cost, but maintenance is expensive.
Petrol cars are low maintenance and are best for small journey.
Before choosing EVS (electric vehicle), check the availability of charging infrastructure.

Best option:
Long Drivers: CNG / Diesel
Short Drivers: Petrol
Keeping the environment in mind: Electric (EV)

Choose the type of car – hatchback, sedan or SUV?

Hatchback:

• Most suitable for first car

• Small and easy to handle

• Maruti Alto, Swift, Tata Tiago

Sedan:

• Casual for long distance

• Honda City, Hyundai Verna

SUV:

• More space and powerful engines

• Tata Nexon, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra XUV300

If you are a new driver and drive more in the city, the hatchback will be the best option.

Give priority to safety features

Safety features are the most important, especially if you are buying a car for the first time.
Airbags (at least 6 airbags)
ABS (Anti-Lock Breaking System)
EBD (Electronic Breakforce Distribution)
Rear Parking Sensor & Camera
Traction control

Give priority to cars with 5-star safety rating.

Understand EMI, loan and down payment

Compare interest rates before taking a car loan.
The EMI of the loan should not exceed 15-20% of your salary.
See offers from government and private banks for low interest rates.

Best Plan:
Make 50% Down Payment – This will reduce EMI burden.
Take a loan of 3-5 years-longer periods may be expensive.
Compare interest rates-Bank and NBFC rates may vary.

Dealership and offer to choose the correct choice

Check both company discounts and dealership discounts.
There is a huge discount in the end and festive season of the year.
If a model is old in stock, it can get a discount of Rs 10,000-20,000.

Talk to car dealerships both online and offline.

The color and look of the car also matters?

The color of the car does not make much difference on its price, but some pearl colors are expensive.
Dark colored maintenance is high, while silver and white remain in high demand.

Take insurance and extended warranty

Take a comprehensive plan instead of third-party insurance.
Car insurance is always compared to the market, not obliged to take from the showroom.
Take advantage of extended warranty, so that maintenance costs are reduced.

Take care of the reisle value of the car

If you are thinking of changing the car in 3-5 years, pay attention to the recylers.
The cars of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have more resale value.
Diesel cars have low resale value, while petrol and CNG cars give good returns.