A recent survey of
young insured drivers by leading on-line motor insurance broker
InsureYourMotor.com revealed too many young first time drivers
choose their first car for entirely the wrong reason. With spring
just around the corner, this is the time of year when newly
qualified drivers get ready to purchase their first motor vehicle.
In an alarming survey
of ‘first time drivers’ InsureYourMotor.com found
that peer pressure and aesthetics played more of a part in the
decision making process than that of the mechanical soundness
of the motor vehicle to be driven on the road.
The survey
of newly qualified drivers revealed:
78%
of drivers chose their first car because friends had the same
make or model.
81%
of young women drivers chose their first car on colour alone.
76% of
young drivers ignored parental guidance when making the purchase.
65%
of drivers had no formal mechanical check of the vehicle before
purchasing.
With the media currently
focusing heavily on uninsured drivers, David Harlow, Managing
Director of InsureYourMotor.com urges all drivers not only to
ensure their vehicle is insured, taxed and MOT’d, but
to check its road worthiness. David Harlow comments: “I
am a great campaigner on the current issue of un-insured motorists.
As a result, I felt
it prudent to investigate how young drivers choose their first
motor vehicle. The survey InsureYourMotor.com carried out was
highly revealing. Too many young drivers are ignoring standard
safety and road worthy checks when purchase their first motor
vehicle, basing the decision on aesthetics”.
Follow the InsureYouMotor.com
guide to buying a second hand car when buying your first motor
vehicle.
People
sell cars for one of a number of reasons. They have genuinely
out grown them or there is something wrong. Make sure you
know the correct reason.
Always
try to take either a qualified mechanic with you or someone
that has a good sound mechanical knowledge. #
Conduct
a brief all over inspection, covering: body work, wheels,
tyres, interior trim, boot, engine bay, engine and any suspicious
areas such as under carpets and boot linings.
Does
the mileage match the condition? Be sceptical.
Check
the car's paperwork and service history. If there are too
many repair or service bills this may not necessarily reveal
it’s been well looked after. Too much work will indicate
the car may merit a more detailed inspection. If it does,
contact the AA or RAC who will conduct this for you.
If you
find something suspect, check it out. For instance, if you
spot a new rear bumper, the car may have had a rear-end accident,
so look for signs of damage buckling underneath the car, filled
or badly re-sprayed panels, crumpled panels in the boot and
so on. Also ask the owner about it.
Check
all paperwork: Vehicle registration documents, MOT, Road Fund
Licence and ensure the car has an HPI test. Your insurance
company can do this for you.
Check
the service manual. Has it had all its regular services at
the correct intervals? If so, has it been serviced by a main
dealer?
When
test-driving the car, get a second party who has mechanical
knowledge to drive the car also. Do not go on your own euphoric
gut feel alone.
If you
are fixed on a particular model of motor vehicle, view several
examples before you make your choice. After viewing a number
of examples you will have a feel for what is acceptable condition
and price for the year.
If the
car looks too good for the money, the chances are it isn’t.
Get a feel for the kind of car your money should buy.
