5 tips before buying your first used car

So you've just got your driving licence and you're finally going to be able to buy your first car? Unfortunately, being a student often means having a limited budget. Especially as your driving licence has already been an investment. For this first purchase as a young driver, it's vital to have all the cards in your hand to buy your first car intelligently. As you'll see in this article, buying a second-hand car when you've just got your driving licence is the best thing to do. Here are a few tips to help you avoid any unpleasant surprises when buying your first used car.

1. What budget for a first car?

Buying your first car is usually done at a time when your budget is fairly limited, such as when you're studying or starting a job. As a result, a young driver's first car is rarely a large saloon, but rather a city car that is more practical than attractive, and whose price is easily affordable. For any first-time driver, the budget generally varies between €1,500 and €5,000. At these prices, you'll find vehicles on the market with a bit of experience and which will probably have undergone a few repairs.

What's more, it's easy to forget that buying a vehicle involves more than just the purchase price. Ancillary and recurring costs also need to be taken into account when estimating your budget. Here is a list of average prices for each cost:

Costs associated with the purchase of the car :

• Registration document: approximately 100 euros.
• Spare bulbs: approx. 20 euros.
• Compulsory equipment: approx. 20 euros.

Recurring costs :

• Insurance: the price depends on the vehicle and your policy.
• Fuel: the price depends on the type of fuel (petrol, diesel, etc.), the fuel consumption of the car and your journeys.
• Technical inspection: approximately 75 euros.
• Maintenance: tyre changes, windscreen wipers, oil changes, etc.
• Repairs: following roadworthiness tests and road hazards.
• Tolls: these can be expensive on long journeys.
• Parking: in paid car parks or with fines.

These costs therefore represent a sizeable budget when you buy your vehicle.

2. Buying a new or used car for the first time?

Unless you're one of the lucky ones, many young drivers opt for the second-hand option when buying their first car. What's more, buying a used car seems to be the only option with a budget of less than €5,000. But there are advantages to this, as an older second-hand vehicle is cheaper to insure than a newer one, as third-party insurance may be sufficient. This can be very interesting when you consider that the first few years of driving as a young driver are rarely free of accidents, which is why it's worth buying a second-hand car, which will cost less to repair than a new one.

If you want to buy your first used car from a private individual, you can use classified ad sites. You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding your ideal car to suit your budget, among all the classified ad sites that exist, such as Leboncoin and Facebook Marketplace. Of course, you need to be wary of ads with prices that are too tempting, as they could be scams.

3. A petrol or diesel car?

Petrol vehicles

We advise you to buy a petrol car if you only make long journeys occasionally. If your use is limited to daily journeys, such as to the office, school, etc., a petrol engine will be perfectly suitable.

In the long term, a second-hand petrol car is more economical than a diesel vehicle. Not only are petrol vehicles cheaper to buy, they also cost less to maintain. And if you're concerned about environmental issues, you should know that petrol vehicles pollute less than diesel.

The diesel vehicle

If you're planning to drive long distances in your first car, opt for a diesel. Indeed, if you want to make long journeys, city to city, by car, a diesel engine is more fuel-efficient than a petrol engine. What's more, the price of diesel is lower than that of petrol.

However, you should be aware that a diesel engine is more expensive in the long term, as the cost of repairing this type of vehicle is quite high. It also generally costs more to buy.

4. Which car model for a first car?

The model of your first car will depend on how you use it on a daily basis. A city car will be perfect for your daily commute, while you're more likely to opt for a compact or medium-sized car if you often use the motorway. Here are the used car models preferred by young drivers:

• Renault Clio: along with the Renault Clio 2 and Renault Clio 3, this is undoubtedly the favourite model of young drivers. It's fuel-efficient, good-looking and easy to handle. A second-hand Renault Clio is generally worth around €1,500.
• Renault Mégane: A very comfortable car, the Renault Mégane is a popular choice among young drivers. Second-hand versions are generally worth between €2,500 and €4,500.
• Peugeot 206 and 207: also unmissable, they appeal to a large proportion of young drivers. They have a number of advantages: size, price, design and reliability. The price of a used Peugeot varies between €1,500 and €3,500.
• Citroën C3: With its comfort and good roadholding, the first-generation Citroën C3 is a very practical car. Second-hand prices range from €2,000 to €4,000.
• Volkswagen Polo and Golf: The German carmaker's most popular models, the Volkswagen Polo and Golf are classics among the younger generation. Both are fun to drive and cost between €2,000 and €4,000.

5. Check the Argus price

It's vital to check the Argus rating to determine the budget you want to spend on the car, depending on the model. The Argus price is the benchmark for assessing the value of second-hand vehicles in France.

In the case of a second-hand car, you'll need to check the personalised Argus rating in particular. This reflects the true value of the car according to its specific characteristics (registration date, mileage, etc.). Thanks to the Argus rating, you can estimate the true value and price of the car in question, with a view to negotiating a legitimate price with the seller.

Secure the purchase of your first used car with Obvy

For your first vehicle, we advise you to opt for a second-hand car. It will cost you less to buy, but it will also be cheaper in terms of insurance. However, make sure you choose a recent model, and follow our guide to help you prepare for the purchase of your second-hand car.

Once you've found your used car on a classified ads site or Marketplace, use Obvy to secure your transaction. When you make your purchase, your funds will remain secure in a digital safe until the transaction is finalised. This step of securing the funds (blocking) will allow you to test and check the vehicle with complete peace of mind. If the vehicle is not to your liking in the end, you will always have the option of cancelling your purchase proposal, free of charge of course.

Also, by using Obvy to finance your first used car, you can pay in several instalments.