Americans bought over 17 million vehicles in 2018.

It’s a record that’s been increasing steadily over the past few years. In accordance with consumer demand, there are more cars, trucks, and SUVs advertised on the market than ever before.

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Knowing just where to start and how to choose the right car for you can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time buying.

This guide will help you narrow down your options and find the perfect car for you.

How to Choose the Right Car

Before you can begin the decision-making process, you must first ask yourself a few key questions.

These questions will help you to determine whether you should be looking for used or new, a specific size, and more. The right car is dependent upon your specific needs.

What Is Your Budget?

Unless you have large sums of cash lying about, you’ll need to most likely consider a loan.

How much money can you put toward a monthly payment? You’ll want to try to not exceed 15% of your monthly income.

If you find you need a smaller monthly payment, a used car will be more affordable. Many businesses specialize in selling used cars. Places like this dealership, Fast Turtle Motors, provide quality pre-owned vehicles that are oftentimes almost like new, but without the hefty price tag.

How Many Passengers Do You Need to Carry?

Most vehicles can hold up to five people, albeit the center-rear seat tends to be tight and uncomfortable for full-grown passengers. If you’re test-driving a standard-sized vehicle, be sure to keep this in mind.

If you’ll be carrying more than five people, look into vehicles like minivans and three-row SUVs. These give both additional seating and extra cargo space.

How Much Cargo Space Do You Need?

If you find you need to haul equipment often for work or hobbies, or enjoy going camping and need to tug a camper, then an SUV, minivan, or pickup truck is your best option.

A truck can handle carrying heavy loads and also has the power to pull trailers and campers behind it. Four-door crew-cab pickups are some of the most popular trucks sold.

What Is the Test Drive Like?

The very final, but most important step should be test-driving your vehicle before purchasing it.

It’s best to have at least three options of similar vehicles picked out that you’re interested in test driving. This will give you a range from which to judge how the vehicle handles and which one feels best to you.

Be sure to take the test drive through traffic you’d experience on a daily commute. Drive it through stop-and-go downtown traffic, as well as out onto the highway for higher speeds.

If you have a small child and use a car seat, bring it along. You’ll want to make sure it fits and that it’s easy to get in and out.

Drive off into the Sunset

If you follow these tips on how to choose the right car, you should find the perfect vehicle in no time.

Finding a car that’s best for you is all about your personal situation and unique needs. Weigh what you want versus your essential needs and budget. Sometimes it’s worth opting out on extra features and splashy design in favor of better functionality and fuel economy.

We invite you to read other articles on our site to learn all there is to know about vehicles!