It’s quite a feeling to spend your summer saving up all your money to eventually buy your very first car. But once the money has been saved up, the next question is choosing what car to buy. The best way to approach the situation is to break it down piece by piece to find the perfect car that suits what you’re looking for.

First is your budget, when buying your first car it all comes down to what you can afford and how to make the most out of it. According to Kelly blue book, the average cost for a new car is about 50,000 dollars. Most high school students don’t have that kind of cheddar so a new car isn’t always in the books for everyone. 5,000 or less will get you a car, maybe not the nicest car but if you look hard enough you will get something to get you something that drives. 10,000 to 15,000 will get you a pretty nice car as well as give you a pretty good selection to choose from as far as something that you may want, this is probably the likeliest budget to get you a car that runs nicely and looks presentable. Last is 20,000 dollars or more, you will now be able to purchase most used cars with really good mileage and in perfect health to last you forever, this is the budget that gives you tons of options.

Second, is to consider is what you need for a car or what type of car you’re looking for. If you need something for just traveling back and forth from places you will probably want a nice commuter car with good gas mileage and great reliability. If you need something that’s more of a work vehicle, you will want to lean towards a truck as they are good work horses that can tow a bunch and take a lot of abuse from heavy loads. If you’re seeking something to go fast you will probably want something sporty, the bigger the engine and the lighter the weight will make you that much faster, but keep in mind it’s going to cost a pretty penny.

With the types of car in mind, you should always remember to research the exact car you’re looking at. Check to see if the car has been in any accidents, if it has, it could mean the car could have mechanical faults that will make the car extremely unreliable. Make sure to also look at the odometer, this will tell you about the mileage on the car, the bigger the number, the longer the car has been driven and the more wear that’s on the engine. “I think one thing you should always look for when buying a car is something that is known to be reliable and parts that are readily reliable,” Aiden Norman said.

But remember, pick what you want, If you find a car the meets all of your needs and you really like the look of it, then go for it. After all, there are a load of feelings like freedom, excitement, and nerves that comes with getting your first car, so make it special and make it something you will love driving.