The first question you should ask is “Am I mature enough to accept the responsibility that goes with owning a car?”

There are many reasons to want your own car:

1. Cars make you more independent.
2. They save you time getting from one place to another.
3. Owning a car makes you feel more grown up.
4. Going places in your own car is fun.

How Can You Tell Whether You Need Your Own Car?

The following questions may help you focus on your needs.

1. How close to your home are the places you go to most often?
2. How do you get to these places now?
3. How available is public transportation?
4. Is there a family car and how available is it to you?

•  Can you afford a car?

You will need to examine all of the costs involved in buying and owning a car. The car’s purchasing price, fuel, oil, tune ups, repairs, insurance, registration, and the list continues.

• How will a car affect your schedule?

Students who have to earn the money to pay for a car and its expenses often wind up with lower grades than students who do not work.

• Are you mature enough to manage the responsibilities of owning a car?

Are you able to honestly evaluate all of the costs of both time and money involved in owning a car?

• Can you deal in a mature way with the social pressures of driving and owning a car?

If you’re not mature enough to manage that risk responsibly, you shouldn’t buy or drive a car, regardless of your age.

What Personal Factors Influence the Kind of Car You Need?

Be prepared when you shop for a car what your needs are. Answering the following questions will help you to sort out what you should be looking for in a car.

•  How many passengers will you usually have?

That answer may help you decide what size car you should buy.

• What age are your passengers?

Considering your passengers’ comfort and space needs can help you decide what size car you need. 

• How many miles do you expect to drive each day, month, or year?

Consider your expected mileage to help you determine how fuel efficient your car needs to be.

• Will you use the car to carry heavy loads or to tow a trailer?

The heavier the load or tow, the more powerful the engine you need.

• What is the cost of the car plus the cost of insurance?

Expensive cars cost more to insure than less expensive ones. 

• How much will you have to spend to maintain the car?

A new car usually costs much less to maintain than a used car. You need to make sure that you can afford repairs and maintenance for your car so that you can operate it safely.