For a young driver buying your first car is a pretty big deal. It gives you a level of independence you might never have had before. You’re no longer reliant on family, friends or public transport to get where you need to be. It also means you’ve got to figure out which of the hundreds of cars on the market is right for you, which can seem overwhelming.

When you first get a car it’s important to remember that you’re still pretty new to the road, and that good drivers never stop learning. It takes a while to get really comfortable driving, especially on the motorway or long journeys, and it’s important that you never get complacent. Driving is always risky and there is a lot that is out of your control no matter how good a driver you are.

The first step in choosing a car is to work out what your budget is. How much can you afford to spend on the vehicle? As well as the initial outlay you need to be aware of the additional costs of fuel, road tax, yearly MOTs and insuring the car (which could be quite a bit of cash while you’re still young), plus you need to account for unexpected maintenance. You can visit Compare the Market to get car insurance quotes, and find the right policy for the car you choose.

Old Mini – cheap to buy but, not the safest

If you buy a brand new car it will be subject to an increased road tax for the first year called “showroom tax”. This is one of the reasons it’s well worth considering a second hand car. Modern cars are generally very well made, so as long as you buy from a reputable dealer and make sure it has all the necessary paperwork there’s nothing to stop you getting a great deal on a decent and reliable car. A head’s up though – although it would be awesome to have a retro car like an old Mini or Beetle, those cars were made to much less rigorous safety specifications and won’t hold up well in a crash with a modern car. Hopefully that won’t ever an issue but it’s important to put safety first.

Once you’ve sorted your budget and you know what you can afford to spend on fuel ask yourself what you’ll mostly be using the car for. Diesel engines are more fuel efficient on long journeys or when driving fast on the motorway, but they cost more to buy. Petrol engines are cheaper but they’re only really efficient if you use your car mostly for short trips and driving within a city. You need to figure out whether you’ll be better off making a bit of an investment in the beginning to save in the long run, or if you can get away with spending less on a petrol engine because you’re not going to need the fuel efficiency.

Knowing your budget and what kind of a driver you’re going to be really helps to narrow down the choices, and you can start thinking about which models are right for you in terms of size and comfort. Make sure you take a car out for a couple of test drives before buying it, and find a dealer you’ve been recommended by someone you trust. When you finally get your wheels remember – stay safe and enjoy your new found freedom!

The cost of going green – Insuring a hybrid car

We are all aware of the problems affecting the current climate. Environmental issues have been a hot topic for decades but the last ten years have seen a sharp increase in promoting ‘eco-friendly’ movement and in reducing our carbon footprint. Endless amounts of research have pointed towards a global warming scenario with possibly destructive results and the need for reducing fuel consumption has never been greater than it is today.

Honda Insight

The automotive industry has come under a lot of pressure from environmental groups as fuel guzzling cars have been labelled a prime suspect in the sudden increase of carbon monoxide which has contributed to the global warming crisis. In an effort to combat this issue and progress to the next stage of automotive evolution, the Honda Insight was introduced to the market in 1999 as the first carbon neutral hybrid car.

Hybrid cars combine two or more power sources to power the vehicle, effectively reducing fuel consumption by supplementing the motor engine with an electric or renewable gas engine. They have been gaining popularity recently although a full transition from regular fuel consuming cars to a more eco-friendly hybrid seems to be a long way away  as drivers are still hesitant to make the change. With the rising costs of fuel however, it may not be long before drivers consider the savings they could make in fuel consumption as well as the obvious benefits to the environment.

But can hybrids save money elsewhere? What about insurance?

One of the main concerns amongst drivers is that hybrids are a lot less safe as they are made of lightweight materials which have been designed to make the car easier to run on electric power. This has people worrying that hybrids may be easier damaged than normal cars, increasing insurance premiums as well.

Recent tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) however have found that hybrid cars are no more fragile than regular fuel only cars. Yet insurance premiums on hybrid cars are still more excessive than larger, fuel consuming motors.

The main reason behind this has nothing to do with the fact it is a hybrid, and much more to do with that fact that most hybrids are small vehicles. Smaller vehicles have always had a propensity to have higher insurance as they are more easily damaged and involved in more road accidents. As well as size, hybrid cars also pack in a lot more technology than average cars as they need specific components for running hybrid engines. This not only bumps up the cost of the vehicle but also the insurance premiums as they cost more time and money to repair.

If you are buying a hybrid purely for money saving reasons then it is important to research thoroughly and weigh up the costs as well as the savings. For the best deal on hybrid car insurance you can check out a price comparison website such as comparethemarket.com for a comprehensive overview of all the latest and most up to date insurance deals.