A4

Justin Pritchard
Pacenews

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Heading Back to School? Need a ride? Here are some tips to help keep more of your hard earned cash in your pocket.

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Websites like www.kanetix.com are available to provide online quotes

It's an unfortunate fact of life, but if you're young and need to own and operate a car, it's going to be very expensive. Shopping for a ride and paying for its fuel, insurance and upkeep can seem a daunting, hopeless experience.

If you've decided on becoming a young vehicle owner, here are a few tips and pointers to help save some of your hard earned cash.

Insurance: Shop around

If you're a young and un-experienced driver, there are no good deals to be had when paying for car insurance- though some companies may charge less than others.

"For students, the biggest blow to the wallet is insurance" said Jordan Martin, a student who is shopping for his first car.

"Some may find their insurance payments are higher than the car payments, which may cause a lot of young people to rethink how much money they want to spend on a new car."

Don't be discouraged after calling for one or two quotes, and be sure to shop around. Websites like www.kanetix.com are available to provide online quotes as well.

Remember to be sensible in your vehicle choice. That turbocharged sports car or flashy coupe is probably a lot pricier to insure.

Learn to drive stick

On a new car, an optional automatic transmission costs in the ballpark of $1,000. A manual transmission will leave more money in your pocket, it's more fun to drive, and it tends to enable slightly better fuel consumption too.

A good teacher can have you mastering the stick-shift in the course of an afternoon. You'll probably never drive an automatic again!

Take driving lessons, upgrade your license

Get through the graduated licensing process as soon as possible. The sooner you're a fully licensed driver, the sooner you'll be eligible for associated discounts from your insurance company.

Also, take driving lessons if you haven't already, as most insurance companies offer a discount if you do.

Used Cars: Buyer Beware

Just because a vehicle is 'certified' doesn't mean that it couldn't easily be a lemon.

A mechanical inspection at the service centre of your choice is a great idea before buying any used car.

Research your choice- as most vehicles have a community of online owners who can tell you what to look out for. The Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Grand Am and Mazda Protégé are wise choices for a first car.

New cars: Free Money?

If shopping for a new ride, be sure to check online or ask your sales rep about discounts for students or graduates. Many carmakers offer 'graduate rebates', which apply to high-school, college or university graduates- depending on the automaker.

Be sure to check with the manufacturer of your choice.

Rebates of up to $1,000 and other perks are available from carmakers hoping to hook you on their products from a young age. After all, if you do well in school and land a killer job, you'll probably upgrade a few years down the line.