Owning a car is essential for most people whether it is for commuting to work or school, completing day-to-day tasks or even for leisure. If you are having trouble figuring out what to prioritize when buying a car don’t sweat it we’ve got you covered:

1. Budget – The most important thing to prioritize when buying a car is your budget. Once you have your budget figured out you can begin to assess the value of vehicles in the price range. Budget is not just factoring in monthly payments on the car but also gas and eventual repairs. It’s important to have a fund put aside so that when emergency repairs come up you are prepared. 
2. Day-to-day tasks – After determining budget, the next thing you should ask yourself is what you need the car for. If it’s commuting to work or school, you may not need an SUV or mini-van, but if it’s taking kids to sports practice or your job requires transporting large items then you may want to look into SUV’s or pick-up trucks. Buying a car that is right for your daily tasks helps narrow your search and lock in on a car that you perfect for YOU. 
3. Safety – When assessing value of your next car, safety should not be taken lightly. Just because you can’t necessarily see safety doesn’t mean that it is not important when assessing value. A car that has a great safety rating will help keep you and your passengers safe when on the road so make sure you do your research on your next car’s safety rating before purchasing. 
4. Fuel Efficiency – Depending on how much you plan to spend, you should take a long look at the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. A vehicle with good fuel efficiency will save you tons on gas, and with new technology, even larger vehicles are getting excellent fuel efficiency. You are no longer limited to looking at compact cars when it comes to fuel efficiency! 
5. Comfort – You want to be comfortable when driving especially if it takes up a chunk of your day. When assessing value of your next car, you need to take into consideration if you want a leather interior or a cloth interior. If you live somewhere with hot temperatures, it may be better to opt for cloth interior whereas if you live somewhere cold, you may be more interested in leather interior. You may want to opt for heated seats too!

All of these things above can work as a checklist when assessing the value of your next vehicle. Remember to stop and really think before purchasing a new car because you want the best possible vehicle for your specific needs!