3 Key Factors to Consider When Buying a New Car

Purchasing a vehicle may not be an investment in the traditional sense because cars do not appreciate, but it can still be an investment in your family’s safety, comfort, and convenience. When it comes time to buy a new car—whether pre-owned and new to you or literally new from the manufacturer—there are a lot of factors to consider.

By researching the features that are most important to your loved ones—and shopping around for the best deal—you can make a smart investment that will pay off in fun family road trips and reliable transportation for years to come. Some of the newest safety features worth checking out include:

• Pedestrian detection;
• Automatic emergency braking;
• Adaptive cruise control;
• Blind-spot warning;
• Lane-keeping assist;
• Lane-departure warning; and
• Active head restraints.

Conscientious motorists who want to reduce their risk of causing a collision should consider purchasing a vehicle with some or all of the above features; however, the only foolproof way to avoid car wrecks is to stay off the roads entirely. Unfortunately, even if you follow all local traffic laws and remain alert when behind the wheel, you cannot rely on those around you to do the same.

If you were hurt in a crash that was not your fault, turn to the Cooper Law Firm. Attorney N. Eric Cooper helps injured parties throughout east Texas recover the compensation they deserve. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a free consultation with an accident attorney in Mt. Pleasant.

Read on to learn a few essential factors you should consider when buying a new car:

1. Total Price

This may be an obvious consideration when car shopping, but it’s worth mentioning because dealers have a lot of tricks for getting customers to focus on anything but the total price. For example, they might ask what your desirable monthly payment is and then find a way to beat it by increasing the length of the loan instead of decreasing the total cost. Depending on the interest rate, you could end up overpaying by thousands of dollars with such an arrangement.

2. Safety Rating

If the idea of researching dozens of safety features and then finding a vehicle with all of them makes your head spin, just look at cars that have a high safety rating overall. The precise list changes from year to year, but Kelly Blue Book reports that in 2018, the safest cars include:

• Volvo XC90;
• Mercedes Benz GLC;
• Lincoln MKZ;
• Volkswagen Passat;
• Toyota Yaris iA;
• Subaru Legacy; and
• Nissan Maxima.

3. Cost of Insurance

As PennyGeeks explains, dozens of factors will determine what you end up paying for car insurance, including the make and model of your vehicle. It’s important to consider your coverage rates when devising a budget because they could make up a considerable portion of your overall transportation expenses.

Unfortunately, even if you purchase the safest car on the road, all it takes is one drunk or distracted driver to cause a devastating collision. If you were hurt in a crash with a reckless motorist, contact the Cooper Law Firm today.

Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a free case evaluation with an accident lawyer in Mt. Pleasant. You can learn more about auto wreck claims in Texas by visiting the USAttorneys website.