What's a good first car budget?
For most people, $8,000–$15,000 used hits the sweet spot: modern safety, past the steepest depreciation, and cheap to insure. Less than that works too — my own first car was a $6k Jetta.
Tools · First-car quiz
What car should you actually buy first?
I've driven and reviewed most of the cars this quiz recommends. Answer seven honest questions and I'll give you three picks with the reasoning — not a sponsored list.
Question 1 of 7
What's your budget?
FAQ
First-car questions I get all the time.
Should my first car be manual or automatic?
If you're curious about manual, learn on one — it makes you a better driver and it's easier than you think. If you just need transportation, automatic is fine. The quiz handles both.
New or used for a first car?
Used, usually: someone else paid the depreciation, and small dents hurt less while you learn. New makes sense if you'll keep it 10+ years and want warranty peace of mind.
How does this quiz pick cars?
Seven questions set hard limits (budget, transmission, new vs used) and preferences (city vs highway, what matters most). Every recommendation is a car I'd actually tell a viewer to buy, scored on my own reliability, fun, comfort and safety ratings.
Before you buy