Buying A First Car.
Buying a first car is often seen as an important rite of passage, but it can also be overwhelming, with a seemingly unlimited number of options to go for. This guide will give an overview of what to look for in a first car and recommend 5 of the best options for new drivers in 2021.
Safety.
The first (and most important) aspect to consider when purchasing a first car is safety; research conducted by ALA Insurance in 2017 found that just over 1 in 5 (21.6%) new drivers were involved in an accident during their first year of driving. Even more alarming, research from the charity Brake found that despite making up just 1.5% of driving license holders, 17-19 year olds were involved in 9% of all fatal or serious collisions.
Despite these numbers being shocking, they are not altogether surprising: navigating roads can be complex and new drivers are, by nature, inexperienced. This combination can lead to dangerous results. This is why it’s so important to go for a model that places a strong emphasis on safety features. Fortunately, independent assessment organisation EURO NCAP make this simple, giving every car a score based on their safety: their tests are comprehensive, taking a multitude of factors into account, and the higher the score the safer the car.
In general, new cars are always going to be safer than old second-hand ones, due to new safety technology such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control being installed as standard. However, if you do go decide to go second-hand it’s important to do due-diligence on the vehicle. Checking the EURO NCAP score is a good place to start, as well as looking for important features such as ABS, traction control and all-wheel drive. Heavier vehicles also tend to be structurally stronger, an advantage in collisions. Finally, if you are purchasing a second-hand car it is imperative to take it for a thorough test drive before you buy.
Insurance.
The second major consideration for new drivers looking for a first car is insurance. Due to the high rate of collisions for new drivers, insurance companies see them as a major liability and price their premiums accordingly. There are, however, a few things that can somewhat mitigate the costs.
The first is a black box. This is an electronic device that connects to your vehicles electronics and monitors your driving, automatically transmitting data about your driving performance to your insurance company. Insurers will often give you reduced premiums if you agree to have a black box fitted, and will keep the lowered premiums (or even lower them further) as long as you drive in a safe manner. Speeding and other reckless behaviours will cause your premiums to increase or, in extreme situations, lead to your policy being terminated altogether.
Another way to get your premiums down is through a no-claims bonus. Avoid claiming on your insurance for your first 12 months of driving and this bonus will kick in, reducing your monthly payments by a predetermined percentage. This percentage will increase year on year, provided you manage to avoid an accident. While this won’t be of any help in your first year, over time no-claims bonuses can significantly reduce your premiums.
Final considerations.
The model of car you go for will also have major implications for your premiums. Newer cars with more safety features will generally be cheaper to insure, although higher value vehicles will also push premiums up. This is why it’s generally recommended for new drivers to opt for new, but relatively inexpensive, models.
It is generally recommended for new drivers to go for petrol powered models, as new drivers tend not to put enough miles on their car to unlock the value benefits of diesel engines, which only really kick in at high annual mileages. This is why small diesel cars are relatively uncommon. Some other smaller factors to look for include light steering, stop-start engines (for maximising fuel usage), responsive brakes, good visibility and user-friendly controls.
Bearing all of these considerations in mind, these are the 5 cars that are most recommended for new drivers: