🚗First-Time Car Buyer Guide
Your complete roadmap to buying your first car — from budget planning to insurance and total cost awareness.
Guide Progress
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Set a Realistic Budget
Your Guide Steps
Set a Realistic BudgetRequired
Use the Affordability Calculator to understand your spending limits.
Pro Tips
- •Consider your monthly income
- •Factor in insurance and maintenance costs
Estimate Monthly PaymentsRequired
Plug your numbers into the Payment Calculator to see different loan terms.
Pro Tips
- •Try different loan terms
- •Compare interest rates
Plan Your Down Payment
See how increasing your down payment lowers your monthly bill.
Pro Tips
- •Aim for 20% down if possible
- •Larger down payment = lower monthly payments
Compare New vs UsedRequired
Get a side-by-side breakdown of cost, reliability, and depreciation.
Pro Tips
- •Consider depreciation
- •Factor in warranty coverage
Estimate Insurance CostRequired
Preview what insurance will cost before you buy.
Pro Tips
- •Shop around for quotes
- •Consider your deductible
Understand Total Cost of Ownership
Know long-term costs: maintenance, fuel, repairs, and depreciation.
Pro Tips
- •Include maintenance and fuel
- •Plan for unexpected repairs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to use these guides?
No, progress is saved automatically in your browser. No sign-in needed.
Can I skip steps?
Optional steps can be skipped or done in any order. Required steps are marked and must be completed to finish the guide.
How does automatic progress tracking work?
When you use one of our calculators or tools that's part of a guide step, that step is automatically marked complete. You can also manually mark steps as done.
Can I use multiple guides at once?
Yes! You can have multiple guides in progress simultaneously. Your progress is tracked separately for each guide.