Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting times as well as one of the most stressful times you may encounter in your life. One day you’re young, free and single, the next you’re responsible for a tiny bundle that’s dependent on you for everything.

Becoming a parent doesn’t come without its sacrifices. No matter how small or trivial those sacrifices may be, one thing that you may have to reconsider is the size of your family car. If you’ve been cruising the streets in a two-seater convertible, your prized possession may soon have to be swapped for a practical five-door salon that will be able to transport, you, your family and the kitchen sink comfortably, safely and in style.

Even though it may seem time consuming, carrying out online research before you start visiting showrooms will save you time and money in the long run. Make sure you thoroughly research every make and model that you are considering and check out all the deals and options that are available on the market at the moment.

Of course, financing your new purchase will also be a major consideration. There are a great many finance schemes available and an ever more popular method of buying a new car is by using personal car leasing. With car leasing you never own the car as you quite simply hand the car back at the end of your contract which can mean you can get more car for your money. Again, make sure you research your options carefully to make sure you are getting the best deal for your budget. For more information visit: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/leasing-a-car

Space

If you’ve just had your first baby, you’ll be looking for a car to accommodate the three of you, however as we all know sometimes life can deliver surprises either planned or not planned so it may be wise to ensure your next purchase can fit in one or two more additions. Make sure you check out the boot size and that you can fit your pram and other bags into the space easily. The last thing you want is an argument between your pram and boot every time you go out.

Safety

We all want a cool looking car with the latest techno gadgets, but the most important features your next car should have are the most up to date safety standards. For new cars being manufactured today there are essential safety features that manufacturers have to adhere to. By 2021 there are further standards that will be imposed, which you can read about by following this link: http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/advanced-safety-technology-to-be-standard-on-new-cars-by-2021/

Economical

With family life comes taxi services! Before you know it, you’ll be ferrying them here, there and everywhere, so you need to make sure your running costs are as low as possible. You’ll have to weight up fuel costs, VAT, servicing, parts, as well as charges for congestion and clean air zones in certain areas.

Comfort

Cars are now designed to be spacious and comfortable but don’t take anything for granted. For those cars you go and test drive, make sure you sit in all the seats so that you know what the passenger’s space is like as well. Make sure they have features like trays, drink holders and heated seats.