Total car newbies

[EmBeEmBe]

We've never owned a car but now might be the time we finally get one. We have literally no idea how to go about it!! Please help...

We'd like a hybrid or electric, although will be reliant on on-street charging points (unless we run a cable through our letter box and over the pavement which we've seen happening locally).

We have 2 kids in high-back-boosters. We'd use it for outings to the countryside and UK holidays. We live inside the ULEZ zone.

We like driving the Ford focus and we once hired an octavia which was lovely, but I appreciate in a different league to a focus.

We have no idea whether it's better/cheaper to lease a car or buy outright.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

A budget might help.

So you should start with your requirements.

How many seats? How much luggage space? What range do you need?

What can you afford? Don't forget to budget for fuel, insurance and maintenance. Consider whether used cars might be better value than new (hint, yes).

If you are interested in going full electric, are there handy charge points near you, maybe in the supermarket car park where you shop, or at work?

How important is image to you? Are you purely interested in the practicality or do you require a certain look?

Once you've answered those questions then you can start looking at cars to see what suits your requirements.

You can then read reviews and test drive some cars.

Thanks @CruelAndUnusualParenting that's v helpful. I think we're looking at a hybrid as 2nd hand electrics don't seem to have the oomph we need. Have decided to go up to £15k and yes, 2nd hand seems the way to go.

Even cheap electric cars are generally pretty quick up to about 30mph, how much oomph do you want? An i3 for example, is quicker 0-30mph than a 2013 M3.