Buying Your First New Car

Anaya Armstrong

November 8, 2020

So I got a new car! Yay! It was much harder than I expected. There were many things I didn’t know I would have to know. So I figured that I would give some advice on the things that I didn’t know so that anyone who is thinking about buying his or her first car could get some insight.

The Dealership

Finding the place to buy the car was a lot harder than I originally expected. I was pretty much under the impression that I could go to a dealership and they would have exactly what I wanted in the exact color and with all the features I wanted. Wrong! Dealerships are a lot more complicated than that. They are really like a Target. You know how you can get a bathing suit from any Target during the summer, but if you want a specific print, it may not be at your Target? That’s basically what a car dealership is. You can get a car from any of them, but the more specific you get, the more you’re going to have to go to a specific place.

Picking out a Car

OK, so this is supposed to be the fun part, and it is for the most part. The thing that really gets complicated is when it gets down to the packages and the specific look. As I said in the earlier paragraph, the more specific you are about the model and make of the car, the more it affects the whole process. One thing you should know is that you should plan ahead on what type of car you will need for the foreseeable future. If you are a mom who will be planning on having more kids , then you need to consider the number of seats in the car. That was not my situation.

Insurance

When I was getting my car, I was not aware of all the things that went into getting the proper insurance. I decided to go with my mom’s insurance company. Luckily since I used the same company, they had my information, however I still had to provide them with additional things, for example my transcripts. I also had to get them the completion certificate for the driver’s training that I had taken years ago; I had to call the driving academy and get a copy. I also has to get all the information about the car, like the VIN number, make, model, and mileage.

Be Flexible

This is more personal advice — try to stay open in your car purchase. Try not to get your heart set on one particular car, because more than likely that will change. When I was buying my car, I had found a car that I really liked and was happy with. I made a plan and communicated with the dealership and we worked on the things we needed for me to buy this car. Upon returning to dealership to complete the purchase, another couple had come in and really liked the car and ended up buying it! I was really upset because I had my heart set on that specific car. My mom was really supportive and helpful. She helped me find the right car, and that obviously wasn’t it. We went back and talked to the right people and eventually found the right car for me. So remember that, when you get your first car, things will work out however they are supposed to — trust the process.

Anaya Armstrong

Anaya Armstrong is a graduate from South Aiken High School. She is 18 years old and has been an Aiken resident for six years. She is the eldest of four sisters and is the daughter of Ladonna Armstrong. She will be attending the University of South Carolina, Aiken in the fall where she will pursue a business degree. She is the Marketing Assistant at Bella Magazine and the Bella Buzz Coordinator.

Anaya Armstrong

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