As a new driver, you might feel ready to take on the world and to get out there on your new wheels. However, new drivers are most at risk of making some severe mistakes that can affect their safety, their car’s condition, and their finances. Here are a few tips to help you establish the responsibility you need to get the most out of car ownership.
Don’t assume you’re finished learning about driving yet
You might have passed your test and learned your license but, if you’re like most drivers, your recently acquired skills might have some major gaps like learning how to assess threats on the road, or even driving on freeways. Consider honing your training even further with things like defensive driving courses. This can help you learn not only how to drive a car, but how to drive it well and ensure a greater level of safety.
Start taking better care of your car now
The more time and effort you put into maintaining your vehicle, the longer you will be able to extend its life. Getting familiar with its routine service needs and making sure you keep any appointments is essential. However, there’s a lot you can learn to make maintenance a lot more thorough, and less costly, as well. Instead of having to go to the garage for every little thing, consider learning how to change filters regularly, how to change oils, and how to replace some of the most commonly disposed parts such as spark plugs and leads.
Start budgeting as soon as you can
Car ownership can be expensive, and those expenses can come up to bite you in the rear if you’re not careful. You have likely already figured the cost of the car loan into your budget, but you should also do what you can find low cost car insurance and factor it in, and keep track of your gas usage and figure out how much you spend on it on average. Other costs you should be keeping track of can include any parking costs, how much you can expect to spend on repairs and services, and the like.
Stay equipped for any emergency situation
If you end up in an accident or breaking down on the side of the road, it’s important you have a game plan to deal with what comes next. For instance, you should make sure that your car has an emergency kit that includes, amongst other things, water, high visibility cones, a jump cable, a first aid kit, and a list of emergency contacts such as family members, any lawyers you may need to call, and a breakdown service. Don’t assume that such emergency situations won’t happen to you, be prepared for them.
Experience is going to help drive most of the tips mentioned above home, but that doesn’t mean you should be satisfied with being reckless and less sensible as a new driver. Be mindful of your safety, your budget, and your car’s condition and you will avoid making some costly and even dangerous mistakes.