Buying a car is a daunting task at the best of times.
Throw in family life, and your priorities have long shifted. No longer is it all about horsepower, sound systems and looks.
Instead, you’re more concerned with safety, functionality, and affordability.
Whether you’re ferrying your kids on the mum run or want to be able to pack your bags for a family holiday without worrying about space, here’s what you should look out for when buying a family car:
Affordability
The cost of living has surged to scary heights in the past few months.
So figuring out your budget and what you can afford is more important than ever before splashing out on a car.
First off, work out your average monthly spend.
Look at everything from how much you spend on your current vehicle (fuel, maintenance, insurance etc.), utilities, phone bill, food, entertainment etc.
Then, do a spot of research. Work out how much the sort of car you would like will cost to buy and run. Look at expert and customer reviews.
Ask is it reliable? Does it have a good reputation? What is the fuel economy like? How does it handle on the road? You need to get your money’s worth, after all.
Once you’ve worked out how much you can spend, the fun can really begin.
But remember, only spend within your means. That’s what your budget is there for!
What car finance is available?
One of the best ways to make your next family car purchase more affordable is to consider car finance.
It removes the pressure of fronting up the money for a cash purchase and allows you to pay back your loan in fixed, low monthly instalments.
If you have a good or excellent credit score, lenders are more likely to approve your loan within minutes (in many cases) than someone with a poor credit history.
But that doesn’t mean that car finance is off the table.
Bad credit car finance is available from specialist lenders, who review your individual circumstances to get you behind the wheel and help you rebuild your score.
Make sure you check out the different types of car finance. For instance, a personal contract purchase will make switching your car later easy.
In contrast, a 0% deal will limit your choices down to a select bunch of vehicles that may not meet your needs.
Is it big enough?
Size really does matter when it comes to choosing the right car for your family.
You need to think about everything from easy access for car seats to comfort and storage space.
SUVs (sport utility vehicles) have become the natural choice for many parents in recent years.
They are versatile, and you sit higher up off the road than a traditional motor giving you more clearance from the ground and a better field of vision.
But equally, you need to think about the needs of your family, work and travel potential before clamping down on a decision.
Consider if the vehicle will suit your family as it grows and your children get bigger. And perhaps, will it be suitable when they reach their teenage years?
Consider the running costs
We all have different priorities when it comes to how we use our vehicles.
But, no matter if you use your car for everyday life, for work or for exploring, it’s amazing how quickly running costs add up.
What type of fuel should you go for? Petrol, diesel, or get rid of the fossil fuels for good and go electric?
With the fuel forecourt trumping up unbearable costs at the pump, opting for an EV (electric vehicle) will save you money in the long run.
They may be more expensive initially, but with the advances in technology and various EV generations available on the market – they are comparable to their fuel-guzzling counterparts.
Weigh up mileage vs running costs and think carefully about futureproofing your vehicle purchase.
While there are perks to both petrol/diesel and EVs, the automotive industry is certainly favouring the latter over the former.
Make sure you check out the government-funded Plug-in Grant to slash up to £1,500 off of your EV purchase at the dealership.
Read up on safety ratings
You’ve looked at size, affordability, and car finance options, but what about safety?
The latest vehicles to drop are the safest on the road.
Before making it to the dealership, every new model must pass a series of tests via the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program.)
And guess what? You can look at the results online to see how well they fared throughout their performance. Grading is awarded between 0-5 stars.
Parents should look at the child protection scores, as they focus on everything from the safety of seat restraints to how well the vehicle accommodates child car seats.
For added peace of mind, it’s also worth thinking about the included safety features: automating emergency braking, parking sensors, cameras, blind-spot warning technology and more.
Avoid hard to clean interiors
A simple trip to the supermarket can easily result in a wave of crumb-related devastation on the back seat or a spilt drink!
Throw in muddy wellies, dirty hand prints and, of course, the multitude of sticks your child must keep forever, and you’ve got yourself a messy disaster zone to take care of.
While cleaning up the constant debris may be less of a priority for you these days, sorting out spills and debris will help keep upholstery clean and maintain your car’s value.
To make things easier, opt for easy-to-clean surfaces such as leather. That way, you can forgo scrubbing away the dirt and quickly wipe it away instead.
Buying a family car doesn’t have to be a challenge.
Once you know how much you want to spend, the size you need and what other costs are involved, you’ve done all the hard work. What family-friendly motor has caught your eye?