3 main tips for buying your first car

If you're thinking about buying your first car, congratulations! Before you make the final decision and hand over the money, read these three tips to help you avoid costly mistakes.

1. Decide what kind of car you need

Start with what you need the car for. For a first car, we recommend a reliable, sensible model rather than your dream car: scratches and small dents are almost inevitable for a new driver, and they hurt less on a cheaper car.

Write down what matters to you: make and model, number of seats, trunk size, fuel type (gasoline, diesel, hybrid or electric) and consumption, gearbox, mileage and equipment such as heated seats or parking sensors. Also think about where you'll drive most — in town, on the highway or on gravel roads — and how important safety systems are to you.

Then split the list into must-haves and nice-to-haves. This will help you set a budget. Also read other drivers' reviews of the models you're considering, so you know their typical weak spots and common faults in advance.

2. Set a realistic budget

Once you know what you're looking for, research the market to see whether you can afford such a car. Start with prices for cars that only have your must-haves. If those prices are below your budget, you can also look at cars with extra equipment. Our car valuation calculator makes this quicker by showing the market value of a specific model by year and mileage.

Decide whether you'll pay the full amount up front or use leasing or a loan. If you take financing, compare offers from several lenders — not just the interest rate, but also the down payment, the contract fee and the total amount you'll repay.

Don't forget running costs, which often surprise first-time owners: mandatory OCTA insurance (usually more expensive for new drivers), optional KASKO cover, the vehicle operation tax, regular technical inspections, fuel, servicing and repairs, and winter tires, which are mandatory in Latvia from December 1 to March 1.

3. Choose a trustworthy seller and check the car

Once you've found the right car, all that's left is to choose who to buy it from. The safest option is a well-known car dealer or an official dealership, but a used car from a private seller is often cheaper. In that case, it's worth doing a few checks before the deal.

Start with CSDD data: for a car registered in Latvia, e-CSDD shows its inspection history with mileage readings, the latest inspection results and other information for free (free registration required). This lets you check whether the seller is telling the truth — for example, whether the odometer has been rolled back.

For an imported car, the Latvian register only shows its history since it was registered in Latvia. So also order a VIN history report, for example from autoDNA. It can show whether the car has been in accidents, whether it's stolen and what its mileage was abroad — information dishonest sellers prefer to keep quiet.

Take someone who knows cars well to the viewing, or have the car checked at an independent repair shop before you buy. Before you pay, make sure the seller is the owner listed in the register or someone they have authorized, and sign a written sales contract.

To learn exactly what to check during the viewing and test drive, read our article on how to spot a lemon.

We hope these tips help. Good luck finding your first car!