Buying Tips

Young Driver Resource Center

You've officially been handed the car keys and, suddenly, an open road of possibilities is before you. Not only can you now get to work more easily and hang out with your friends beyond walking-distance radius, you also get to pick a ride that reflects your personality to the world.

But with all these new bonuses come a bunch of new responsibilities, and Edmunds.com is here to help guide you through it all.

The first step
We can get you started by showing you fun ways to overcome classroom boredom through online driver education or via a racing school. Imagine a racecar driver sitting in the instructor's seat telling you how to spin out. That's what I'm talking about.

Then there's the matter of auto insurance. Since you are brand-spanking-new to the road, this doesn't come cheap for you and/or your parents. But, Edmunds can point you in the right direction for how to get discounts off your rates. For example, if you're a student driver with good grades, did you know that you may qualify for the good student discount? Who knew that getting an "A" could save you money?

The first time
And for help with making that big decision in your life — buying a car for the first time — Edmunds offers 10 easy steps for everything from how to find the right car for you to how to buy a used or new car on the cheap. Or if you just want to quickly price that hot hatchback you've had your eye on, check out our easy-to-use TMV pricing system.

The open road ahead
Setting off on this road for the first time should be exciting, not scary. And it doesn't have to be, given that all the information you need is just a mouse-click away. Take a look around Edmunds and you'll find that these big decisions are actually pretty easy to make with the right guidance.

Teen/New Driver Insurance
Car Insurance for Teenage Drivers

Driving Schools
Driver's Ed Online: The End of Classroom Drudgery?
Defensive Driving School for Teenagers

Buying a Car
Top 10 Cheap Cool Cars for Teens for 2006
10 Steps to Find the Right Car for You
10 Steps to Leasing a Car
10 Steps to Buying a New Car
Compare the Costs: Buying vs. Leasing vs. Buying a Used Car
The Feel of the Wheel—How to Test-Drive a Car

Buying a Used Car
10 Steps to Buying a Used Car
Certified Used Cars: The Wave of the Future
How to Read a Car Ad
Edmunds.com's TMV: The Magic Number
How to Get a Used Car Bargain, Part I
How to Get a Used Car Bargain, Part II
How to Get a Used Car Bargain, Part III

Financing
Down Payment — How Much if Any?
Car Financing: Buying vs. Leasing
Calculate Your Own Lease Payment
Tips for Subprime Borrowers: Getting a Car Loan With Bad Credit
Car Financing Pitfalls and Solutions
Credit Tips: Getting the Best Rates on Your Car Loan
Simple Car Finance Calculations: You Do the Math

Good Reads
Driven to Distraction: Cell Phones in the Car
Cell Phone Safety
Confessions of a Car Salesman
Teen Driver Safety Series
Top 10 Editors' Tips to Prevent a Car Accident