Buying a car requires commitment. You will both be spending a lot of time together, so it's best to know you've made the right choice and you're happy with your decision. There's also lot of money at stake, so you don't want to be disappointed. Follow this advice to make sure you choose the best car for your motoring requirements.

First, stop dreaming. Put down that copy of Auto Trader now! It's time to put your needs before your wants and think about what you really need / want in a new car.

Buying a car is exciting - great - so the process should be satisfying. You'll want to end up with a car that says something about who you are - that's fine, too. But you still need to choose the right car.

Choosing the right car is the first step towards easy car ownership. To tackle this critical task, put your rational head on and really think about what you need in a car because everything comes into the choose when buying one, here's just a few examples, are you single, married, have children ( how many) do you work the same hours as your partner but both need a car for work, parking in your street, the list goes on and on.

There's no 'right' way to choose a car - we're all different, with complex and often contradictory needs. That's why 'Insider Guides' give you the low-down on thousands of models.

Once you're equipped with the facts and figures, and know what you really, really need, one of those vehicles will be your next car, and the best car for the job.

Safety.

There is no perfectly safe car, but certain models can protect you better in case of a crash. Some vehicles offer features that help you to avoid an accident in the first place. You can compare there crash test ratings and find other car safety information online at:-

SaferCar.gov - crash-test and rollover ratings for specific models by NHTSA

NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website where you can find automobile safety information, auto crash testing, statistics, recalls and more.

IIHS - the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website where you can compare frontal offset and side impact crash test results as well as Injury, Collision and Theft Losses and Fatality rates for different cars.

Reliability.

Reliability can be one of the most important things to think of when choosing a new car, Obviously not all models are the same and some models are a lot more reliable than others, If buying new this isn't usually a major problem as your warranty should cover you for anything that goes wrong, but when buying a second hand car this can be a major factor in choosing the right model.

Cost of Insurance.

The cost of insurance varies a lot depending on the make, year, model and even the colour of the car, as well as driver's experience and many other factors. I definitely recommended to get insurance quotes before buying a car, you can find lots of different car insurance quotes on-line.

Make or Model.

A question that's often asked "which make/ model is best for me?" It's a hard question to answer as there are so many makes and models out there. If you are looking for something that's going to be very reliable and good on fuel, maybe look at some second hand toyota corrollas, honda civics or certain fords.

If you looking for luxury and the fuel consumption isn't an issue then maybe take a look at some BMWs or Mercedes maybe even a Maserati. Which ever you choose though there's always a make/ model out there to suit your every need.

Whatever - Make sure you have FUN when choosing your car.