So, you’ve finally bought your first vehicle. It feels like you’re on cloud nine right now, doesn’t it?
As much as you want to drive around and show off your new car, there are things that you have to take care of before you can do just that.
What are these exactly? Here’s a simple checklist that you can use to make sure you can freely drive your car at the soonest possible time.
Get Car Insurance
A lot of people choose not to get their car insured. But it’s quite important that you do.
Getting car insurance isn’t always required, especially if you’ve already paid for your car in full. But still, car insurance could help protect you and other drivers when an unfortunate incident occurs.
Some car dealers partner up with insurance companies to offer you better deals for your car insurance. You could also opt for third-party insurance companies, but make sure you do your research.
Look for insurance packages that provide the best security for your car. If you have a little extra money, you could also add other features to better insure your car. Make sure it’s still within your budget, though.
Register Your Vehicle
The most important thing to do after buying your first vehicle is to have it registered.
You might have to bring with you some official documents like the car’s sales invoice and title. Most dealerships will have these documents ready for you when you buy your vehicle. But if you’re buying a used car from an individual, you might have to take care of getting the car’s title transferred to your name.
You might also need to prepare your loan documents, proof of insurance, and government IDs. Check with your local vehicle registration office for specific requirements.
It’s important to have these documents ready with you when you apply for your vehicle’s registration. It makes the process faster and easier for you.
Keep Copies of Your Documents
Before storing away your car’s documents, make sure to have them photocopied.
Having multiple copies of these documents stored in your house and car lets you be more prepared. It would be convenient when an emergency situation comes up and you’d need to show your documents to the authorities.
Read Your Car’s Manual
As with any new gadget or item, reading the manual is important. It lets you know about specific features of the item that you would not have known otherwise. It also tells you how to store or take care of the item so that it doesn’t get damaged easily.
Make sure to go over your car’s manual. You don’t have to read everything. But it would be nice to read up on important information. Also, look out for tips on how to maintain your car to maximize its use.
You can also find a maintenance schedule for your car in the manual. Sticking to this regular schedule ensures that your car runs as smoothly as possible.
When you have your car’s oil changed, it would also be nice to take note of the date. Then, log the next schedules into your calendar so that you don’t forget about them.
Keeping your car well-maintained makes it last longer and serves you better.
Take Your New Car for a Drive
Finally, once you’ve settled these things, take your car out for a drive. But before you do that, set the car to your preferences.
Adjust the seats to your comfort. Check the mirrors. Explore the controls of your new car while it’s parked.
These will help you learn about your car. Setting up your car also makes sure you’ll be less likely to run into problems later when you’re on the road.
Once you’ve gotten your car set up, enjoy the driving experience. Bask in the glory of your new car. Let yourself be reminded of how great of an investment your new car is.
Trading In Your Vehicle
If you have an old car, you might want to consider trading in your vehicle for some extra cash. Scrap cars are a great way to dispose of your old car immediately to make space in your garage for your new car.
Ask around junkyards in your area to get the best price for your old car. Scrapping a car is a way to get some money back from your old investment.
Once you trade in your old vehicle, it’s time to get going with the things for your new car. To recap, here are the things you should do after buying a new vehicle—even if it’s not your first one:
- Get car insurance to protect you and other drivers when an accident happens.
- Register your vehicle so that you can drive it around.
- Keep copies of your documents in your home and car in case of emergency.
- Read your car’s manual to familiarize yourself with its features and maintenance schedules.
- Set up your car to your preferences and take it out for a nice drive.
