Passing your driving test is a huge part of growing up. It represents your freedom, your responsibility and your self-reliance, but there's still the matter of your first car to sort out! Yes, we know you've got your eye on the new Audi and yes, it would be cool to have a Hummer, but unless you're one of the Kardashians, don't expect to have a shiny new sports car for your first run-around. Instead, have a look at some of our top tips for picking your first motor:

1. Know your budget - It's no good having a look around the local garage if you don't know much you've got to spend! Bear in mind that it's not just the car itself you have to budget for: recurring costs such as insurance, road tax and MOT need to be accounted for as do running costs such as petrol, servicing and repairs.
2. Size matters - Is it really necessary to get a huge limo when you could manage with a small city car? Some of the most popular first cars (Ford KA, Nissan Micra, Renault Clio) are chosen because of their small size which cuts down on costs overall. Remember that a larger engine will guzzle more fuel which will end up costing you more in the long run.
3. Read the reviews - So you've settled on what make and model you fancy, but is it any good? You may decide that you want a Peugeot 107 because it's small, has cheap insurance, has a reliable engine and is quite fuel efficient. However, there is very little legroom in the back and they tend to struggle on the motorway, which can be a huge deterrent if you plan on ferrying your mates up and down the country.
4. Shop around - There are tons of places to buy cars from nowadays. Franchised dealers, private dealers, independent dealers, auctions, online dealers all offer different quality, prices, deals and guarantees depending on where you go to, so it's best to have a browse online before deciding. Your first car will almost definitely be used so try online auction websites such as eBay to see if you can grab a bargain.
5. Haggle - When sinking a large amount of money into something, you always want to find ways to knock the price down a little bit. Never accept the asking price straight away as you can often always get a little bit extra out of the salesman. Claim to have seen it elsewhere for cheaper, with better extras or whatever you can think of to get the seller negotiating. Don't be afraid to ask for a full tank of petrol, free warranty or a free sound system! If the seller refuses your offer or won't budge on the initial price, don't worry. Simply leave them your contact details and tell them to let you know if they change their mind.
6. Test drive - If you're satisfied with how the car looks, see if the seller will let you take it for a spin (if you're insured to). Look out for how changing gears feels, how responsive the brakes are, if the car pulls to one side, if there are any strange sounds or smells… the list is almost endless. Take this printable checklist along with you to see if the car is worth buying.
7. Secure the V5 - The V5 logbook is an official document providing proof of registration of a vehicle and can help give you peace of mind that the car is not stolen. You will need this logbook to register the vehicle in your name.
8. MOT - Cars over three years old need to have passed a Ministry of Transport test for it to be used on public roads. Be suspicious when buying a second-hand car that doesn't have a current MOT as it raises certain questions, such as "Why hasn't the owner paid to keep it on the road?" Thoroughly check the vehicle as there may be some serious mechanical faults that prevent it from passing the MOT test and will need to be repaired.
9. Choose the right insurance- There is no such thing as cheap car insurance, as you're likely to find out when comparing policies. However, there are ways to lower the cost of your premium in the long run:
   • Take the Pass Plus test. It will cost you roughly £140 depending on where you live, but it can save you up to 35% on your insurance premium.
   • Add a named older driver on your policy, such as your parents. This can save you 10% on your premium.
   • Upgrade your security. Installing an alarm or parking in a garage overnight will force an insurer to lower your premium because of added safety.
   • Don't pay monthly. Insurers often charge a large interest rate (up to 30%) for paying monthly so it works out cheaper to pay it off in one lump sum.
   • Drive sensibly. Being given points on your license for speeding can cause your insurance policy to skyrocket.
   • Compare online. Sites like Money Supermarket and Go Compare can help you discover the best insurance policies out there.
   • Be a woman. Seriously, female car insurance is cheaper because statistically women are better drivers. We're not bitter about that, at all.
10. If in doubt, back out - If you ever suspect that something's fishy or that the seller is purposely neglecting to tell you an important detail, do yourself a favour and call it off right there and then. Your gut is usually right about things and if something seems dodgy, it probably is. If you're not the biggest car fanatic in the world, take somebody who knows their fair share about them so you can ultimately decide if you're getting a good deal or not.