The expert gave advice on choosing the first car

You need to choose the first car with special attention, because the safety of a beginner at the wheel and the development of driving skills depend on it. Alexander Kornev, head of the Department for work with importers at Gazprombank Autoleasing, told Izvestia on March 16.

First of all, he noted that the first car should not be bought with the last money, as it needs to be serviced. According to him, it is better to put about a quarter of the cost of the car in case it needs repairs.

"A used copy older than three or five years is suitable as the first car. Such a car will be significantly cheaper than the new options, but for a beginner, safe driving is more important than the latest model of the brand," Kornev emphasized.

He also advised choosing a compact car: its dimensions are easier to feel. In addition, it is often cheaper, and its service is more affordable.

"In the list of suitable models, we will single out Lada Vesta, KIA Rio and Hyundai Solaris, Volkswagen Polo Sedan, Renault Duster. All of them are available in sufficient quantities on the secondary market, they are easy to maintain, there are no problems with spare parts, and they are also liquid — they are easy to sell if necessary. If you have money for a new car, then you should look at Haval Jolion, Geely Tiggo 4 and Geely Atlas. These are small crossovers that are comfortable to drive in different conditions," Kornev recommended.

Left: the share of imports of used right-hand drive cars has decreased in Russia

The share of used car shipments from Japan fell by almost a third

The expert also talked about what points you should focus on before buying. So, a car should be sold only by its owner or a person with a notarized right to act accordingly. In addition, the fewer owners a car had, the better it usually was. If, according to the vehicle's passport, they have changed frequently, this means that the car may be problematic. It is better if the PTC is original and without special marks. All data specified in the document must match the actual condition of the car.

It is also worth checking the vehicle identification number (VIN). It must be the same as the number on the body and in other places. You can check the car's VIN in the collateral databases for theft and accident history. Also find the service history and mileage data.

The expert also drew attention to the fact that it is important to assess the technical condition of the car before buying. So, it is worth checking whether the joints of the body parts are even, and the absence of paint splashes and tinted areas on the windows and seals is also important. The interior must be at least tidy, everything must be pressed and functioning. You can guess the mileage by the steering wheel, seat or pedals, but there are many factors that will devalue this method, so just evaluate the condition of the car as a whole, he noted.

"Since our car is affordable, it will have the most basic systems, but all the necessary ones. These include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the stability control system (ESP), which are responsible for the vehicle's handling in difficult road conditions. Also on the list of necessities is power steering and at least two airbags for the driver and front passenger. It's good if the seats and windows are heated. Other amenities on this list include at least a pair of electric windows, an air conditioner, and an audio system with primitive parking sensors," he concluded.

On March 14, experts from the SberAuto car purchase, maintenance and sale service (part of the Sber ecosystem for motorists) told Izvestia about careful tire repair. So, they noted that it is worth changing only the wheels themselves. In addition, the experts stressed that the car must stand on a flat and solid surface, and the jack must be installed correctly. There may also be difficulties with unscrewing the nuts. Over the winter, fasteners can stick, which makes them difficult to unscrew without special tools, experts stressed.