Buying your first car together as partners or newlyweds? Big life changes like the merging of your and your partner’s living spaces, vehicles, and finances often mean you have new needs to consider! It’s a time of a lot of excitement, but the overload of choices can lead to unneeded stress and decision fatigue. But don’t worry – with a little thoughtful planning the process of buying your first car together can be much less daunting than making reception seating charts that tactfully separate Maria and Michelle because of their latest feud.
1. Assess
The first step to buying a new car as a couple for the first time is to assess your current assets and your needs. You may already be aware of an issue and that’s why you are car shopping – and yes, impressing your new mother-in-law is a valid issue.Does your old vehicle fit your new lifestyle together? Can it get you where you need to go safely and reliably, does it fit with your priorities (consideration of the environment), and is it suitable for where you live? Consider the pros and cons of a small or compact car – it may make more sense if you spend most of your time in the city, whether at work or play, due to its maneuverability, performance, and ease of parking. Take a realistic look at what you currently have so that you can make an educated decision about what you need in the future.
2. Budget
We get it – this is an expensive time in your life. You’ve been making lots of decisions to set up your new lives together, and while it’s exciting, it’s not cheap.That’s why you need to take into consideration everything that will affect your budget – for instance, how much is your current vehicle worth? How will that affect your down payment? How much do you want to pay per month?
Fortunately, Braman of Miami has a Finance Center that helps customers tackle this question, with the ability to calculate your loan payments, value your trade, and more.
It’s also worth thinking about your larger financial picture – the cost of ownership. For instance, a vehicle may have a higher cost to buy now but will save you in the long run because it’s fuel-efficient or an EV.
If you don’t have much money to put on a down payment, a great option for you might be to lease a vehicle. Braman MINI of Miami has some of the best car lease deals in Southern Florida.
Now is also a great time to be thinking about combining your auto insurance if you have not already done so. A combined plan can usually save you significant money and is easier to manage in the long run. Be sure to check out multiple quotes from different insurance companies.
3. Prioritize
One of the most important steps is sitting down and defining your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Every person and every couple will have their own priorities. Here are a few considerations that make it to your top priorities list:- Safety
- Reliability
- Fuel efficiency
- Size and space needed for your lifestyle
- Environmental impact (psst… if this is a priority for you, you should check out how the MINI Cooper SE is one of the best electric compacts)
- Style
- Brand reputation and preference
- Cost of Ownership
- Resale value
- Technology and features
4. Communicate
Once you have an idea of your priorities it’s time to sit down and discuss. Make sure both partners are heard equally and that you are considering each other’s needs. If there is a disagreement, try to see from each other’s perspectives. It’s important that this decision is made together and that it fits the needs of your new combined lives together.5. Research
Research will be happening at just about every phase of your car shopping journey. Probably the reason you’re on this article right now is because you’ve already been doing some research. But it’s especially critical once you’ve determined your priorities and budget and then need to decide what brand and vehicles meet your needs.Research is often done online with search engines, but don’t forget to look for other sources of information like asking friends and family, watching informational videos, visiting brand websites and downloading brochures, and of course, visiting your local dealership websites to understand pricing and options. There are also online forums of car enthusiasts and owners of certain brands you can seek feedback from – MINI owner clubs are the best, and the camaraderie that they have is parallel to none.
Or maybe you don’t even need this step because you already have a brand in mind – many people who buy MINI continue to buy MINI for the rest of their lives because they love performance, reliability, and style.
6. Dealership Visit & Test Drive
You can visit your local dealership when you’re still in your research phase because seeing the vehicles on the lot, giving them a test drive, and talking with a local salesperson are all great ways to get a clearer picture of what works for you and your new spouse or partner. But you can also show up to a dealership with your research already done, knowing exactly what you want and having already confirmed with the dealership that it’s on the lot. In that case, you can just show up to test drive it and take it home!Or if you don’t have time to visit the dealership at all and are ready to sign the paperwork, you can skip this step entirely and have your new vehicle delivered to your home with services like Braman Miami’s Curbside Concierge.
