We know getting your license can be quite stressful, but for many buying a first car can be even worse. Do not let the complexities of buying a first car discourage you from getting your license! Hopefully, after reviewing this guide, owning a car will seem within reach after all!

Can’t afford a large down payment? Maybe consider leasing a vehicle. When renting an apartment, you pay a certain amount of money to live in it. The same thing applies to leasing a car. You pay a certain amount of money to a dealer, but at the end of the agreement, you must return the car to the dealership.

If you’re looking for something inexpensive, reliable, and don’t really care what it looks like or how fast it can go, maybe a 2001 Honda Civic is for you! 

“You take care of this car and it will give 0 issues. Mine has 230k miles and still running on the original transmission and most original mechanical components. No paint fade nothing. The ride quality is the amazing and insane gas mileage,” senior Sarah Huyni said.

If you can spare $170 a month then this car will be right in your price range. Being able to last over 300,000 miles makes this car the best first car for its reliability. It is also a front-wheel-drive car making it perfect for all weather conditions. Coming with a wide variety of safety features the 2001 Honda Civic makes for a perfect budget-friendly first car!

For teens who love camping and the outdoors, the 2016 Jeep Cherokee is just for you! Coming with a 4-wheel drive with 8.9 inches of ground clearance, 29-degree angle of approach, 32.2-degree angle of departure, and a 22.9-degree breakover angle. Making this car very flexible around the rugged terrain. Overall, the 2016 Jeep Cherokee will help teens conquer the terrain that other teens dream of exploring. 

Although many states a truck isn’t a very good first vehicle for a teenager because of their tendencies to fishtail on panic stops, or when roads are slick, or them just being very tipsy, Dodge has found its way around all of this. 

The 2016 Ram 1500 is equipped with a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel v6 engine and the HFE ultimate-efficiency package which puts up an EPA line of 21 mpg city / 29 mpg highway. Nor does this full-size truck trade away capability to achieve those grades: the same engine also generates a robust 420 lb.-ft of torque, for a 9,200-lb. maximum tow rating. Making it perfect for a teen’s first truck. 

“This truck was what I needed at a price I could live with. Very comfortable, decent ride, we will see about fuel consumption. Big V8 with plenty of power,” senior Seth Dillard stated.

For most teens they want a fast but not too fast and comfortable car to make memories in. This leads me to my next thought, The Ford 2014 Mustang meets all these requirements while still being an attractive car to look at and drive. 

The v6 base model comes with a $240 monthly payment and a wide variety of features. While being a v6, it still comes with an excellently crafted 3.7-liter engine producing; 305 horsepower at the crank. Just enough power for a new driver to have some fun. 

I happen to own a 2014 Mustang, and I definitely feel like it’s the perfect first car. It gets me around town swiftly and quickly while still feeling like I’m floating on air. 

For those looking for versatility, I recommend getting a 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The GTI can hold five heads and it’s a hatchback. The GTI comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine feeding; 210 horsepower and isn’t a slouch. It’s a car that does a different thing than a WRX or a Fiesta ST. It does everything. 

Congratulations! You now have a few great options for your first car. By following this guide you will be one step closer to buying your first reliable, fast, and attractive ride to make new memories.