what does an 18 year old need to do to get a car
5 Answers
Price cars, get insurance quotes, budget for gas and routine maintenance and save up for repairs. In other words, do your homework. You need a steady job that pays well to drive a car. A f150 is not a good choice for a first car as it uses a lot of gas.
beatupchevy answered 3 years ago
Same as anyone else , cars are now run by a computer and many of the problems are computer related , you use a computer everyday so it's not like you'll be turning wrenches to fix a car . Unless you know a good mechanic when you pull up those guys are probably seeing $$$ . Be vigilant , I've run into many people that work on cars and some should not , they are just dumb . I own three honda passenger cars .
Shopping for your first vehicle can be a little intimidating. But it's really not that hard. First, decide on what you like. Car, truck, van, or SUV. Some good makes to choose from are Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Honda. Once you decide on what you want visit carcomplaints.com and see what other people who own the kind of vehicle you want are saying about it. Know your price range! I don't think it's wise for an 18 year old to have a car payment! You probably have other things coming up that you want to do that cost money. Things like the prom, class trip, or maybe college. Having a car payment can cut into these things or make you unable to do them. Once you find a vehicle you like buy a vehicle history report such as Carfax. Look for red flags such as accidents, multiple owners, and repeat visits to the shop for the same problem. Look for good things as well. Look for frequent maintenance visits such as oil changes, tune ups, tire rotations, etc. Look for Dealer servicing as well. Vehicles that are serviced by the Dealer will be in much better shape than vehicles that have not been. Look for a vehicle that has a reasonable amount of mileage on it for its age. Ten to fifteen thousand miles per year for the age of the vehicle is average. So, for example, a six year old vehicle with seventy thousand miles on it is good. But a four year old vehicle with the same amount of miles on it is bad. Get insurance quotes too. Ask about the price difference between full coverage and basic liability insurance. I always get the highest level of liability with full coverage. Even on my older model vehicles. Choose your insurance deductible wisely! The deductible is the amount you have to pay towards your vehicle being fixed after an accident! I carry $500 deductible. Lastly, get something that you like and will enjoy driving! You'll always remember your first vehicle!! Hope that helps!! Jim
Just call me pops, and for what it is worth. I am male and was 18 over a half century ago. Like you, my first car was built in the same year I was born. Cars were much simpler machines back then because they were not computer operated. Rebuilding carbs, distributors, changing starters, changing generators were relatively simple. Mechanics today employ diagnostic computers to even determine what the problem is/are. Repairs are expensive and I suspect routine maintenance is beyond your ability. Does the truck need tires? That is about 800 bucks. Brakes? Prices are around 150 to 200 bucks per wheel. See where I am going? Insurance? Etc. You are going to need a very good job.
