Top Tips for Finding The Perfect Family Car This Summer

The school holidays are fast approaching, and as day trips, staycations, and ferrying your little ones to holiday clubs will soon be something you and your car need to tackle, you may be thinking about an upgrade - there’s still time! 

Choosing your next family car is something you can’t rush, or take lightly; after all, it’s going to be carrying some very precious cargo. With this in mind, we have a few top tips to make this important task a little bit easier. We’re here to make sure you get the correct car for your family, and can drive happy through many school holidays to come. 

Work out what you can afford

You’ll naturally be wowed by the choice available when you embark on the journey to your next used family car, so narrowing down the search by what you can afford can tackle the overwhelm. 

Take into account not only what you can initially afford (whether you choose to put a deposit down and finance the rest, or you buy outright), but also monthly running costs too. Remember to factor in tax, insurance, annual repairs and maintenance, and how far you’ll be travelling each month so that you can determine fuel costs. 

Get big on boot capacity 

Whether you’re packing the car up for a holiday with your teenagers, doing the weekly shop, storing the pram away for shopping trips with your toddler, or making way for the family dog, it’s safe to say that boot space matters. Anything over 300L is considered a decent size for a family car, and should give you a bit of breathing room when it comes to cargo. 

If you’re taking man’s best friend with you, look for cars with a boot that contains tie-down points, which are so handy for securing dog restraints such as harnesses and crates. 

Look for lots of storage 

As we’re on the subject of storage, it’s not just the boot that you should be paying attention to. Travelling with kids in tow often comes with paraphernalia, and to keep things safe and tidy, a car with storage in areas like the rear seats, doors and centre consoles can make all the difference. 

Put safety first 

Safety precautions taken by the car manufacturer become twice as important when it’s no longer just you that’s zipping around in your car. Therefore, not only is it crucial to understand the safety ratings that each car is given, it’s good to know what safety features are on board at your disposal. 

It’s good practice in your search to only consider vehicles with a high Euro NCAP rating; Euro NCAP is an independent body set up to allow consumers to compare the ability of vehicles to keep passengers and other road users safe. 5 stars indicate a very safe car, so go for cars that have achieved this.

Many modern cars come with technology designed to increase safety. 

Make a driver convenience wishlist 

Is keeping everyone entertained with the tunes a big priority? Will you regularly need to use sat nav? If features such as Apple CarPlay and navigation are non-negotiables, get clear on this before starting your search.

Find your next family car in Harrogate 

Now you’ve got a clearer idea of what to look for in your next family car, the search can begin - this is the exciting bit! Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly hatchback or a spacious SUV, we’ve got 200 cars in stock here in Harrogate, amongst which there’s bound to be what you’re looking for. 

Start your search online today, get help with affordability on our finance page, and find out more about what makes buying your car from Carlingo so special.