6 Expenses to Consider Prior to Buying your First Car as a Teenager
You’ve finally saved enough money, your heart rate is rising as the excitement builds and you’re looking to pull the trigger on buying your first car. Hold the breaks. Cars are not cheap.
I don’t mean to buy, we know that, I mean to maintain. Have you looked into it? Consider all the expenses you will have after purchasing your first teenage car and know what you are getting yourself into.
After using the Teen Learner car payment calculator and understanding how much you will owe monthly to purchase the car, you’ll need to leave some extra money for more expenses.
It’s one thing to buy a car and a whole different responsibility to maintain it. I’ve listed some of the major expenses that arise with owning a car. This is not to deter you, it’s to prepare you. I’ve come up with 6 additional expenses you should be prepared to pay for prior to buying your first car.
Fuel
No fuel, no movement. Fuel is a must and the price has skyrocketed. Have a look at your local prices, do some basic math on how much you will be driving and consider your options.
There are different engine options available for you whether it’s gas, electric powered, diesel or anything else that shows up by the time I post this. You need fuel, it’s a requirement.
Insurance
I highly suggest you look into the cost of insurance prior to purchasing any vehicle. Too often there are articles about insurance costing more than the car a teenager bought. Don’t be surprised and do your research in advance.
Tires
You’ve probably heard the term burn rubber. Yeah, don’t do that. You’ll need to change your tires every few years regardless so don’t speed up the process.
If you live in a snowy destination you’ll probably need a set of winter tires. Good tires are a must for safety. Add this to the cost, it’s non-negotiable.
Maintenance
Oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotations, filter changes, new wipers are just a few. They come quicker than you think. If you’re looking to save money you can learn to do it yourself but you still have to buy parts. Maintaining a car is vital to preventing further repairs so you need to stay on top of it.
Repairs
Nobody likes to hear this word but the reality is that they come up. New transmission? Yikes. Battery dead? Not a big deal but it’s not free. The list could go on for a while.
Things will come up so be prepared that it may not be cheap to fix. Sometimes that clicking you hear just may have to stay. Hopefully the speakers work and you can turn them up.
Unforeseen Events
This one is hard to plan for but don’t let it catch you off guard. Windshields can break, bumpers get bumped. It’s an expense that you don’t want to consider but know that the possibility is there. You can always hope for the best.
Car Payment Calculator
The Teen Learner car payment calculator allows you to input a purchase price, interest rate, and length of loan to get a good estimate on the monthly payment price of a car if you are taking a loan.
It’s important to understand the commitment terms and length you’re getting into before you sign the contract. You can try the calculator here.
Cars are a regular part of society and you may feel the need to have one. Owning a car has lots of benefits but before buying your first car make sure you are prepared for all the circumstances that may come with it.
The enjoyment of your new purchase may quickly become a distant memory if you’re not prepared for what comes with it.
By: Robert Puharich | February 15, 2021 |
