Are You Ready for Your First Car?

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Are You Ready for Your First Car?
Image: alvarez / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Your first car is a big deal in life. A lot is going on when it comes to a vehicle that people take for granted. First, there's the financial responsibility you need to worry about. You've got the initial cost of a car, plus the insurance. Then you need to gas up regularly, not to mention regular maintenance and those random emergencies. You never know when you might get a flat! But even before the costs, there's the whole process of learning to drive, understanding the laws, and just being comfortable behind the wheel. You see how crazy the roads can be out there; you don't want any part of that until you're ready, right?

What it means to be ready for a car is different from person to person. You need to be comfortable with every aspect of driving and car ownership. You need to know you can drive offensively in a pinch or defensively as well. You need to be able to read those gauges and lights on your dash and know when it's time to hit up the garage. You need to be a driver in every sense of the word. So are you ready? Shift into gear, and let's take the quiz!

6-Rules
Carlos Ciudad Photography / Moment / Getty Images
How confident are you that you know all the rules of the road?
110%
I feel quite sure I have them down.
I'm shaky on some of them.
Oof. Not very.
7-Car Tire
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You're driving down the highway at night and you blow a tire! Your phone is dead, so you're on your own. Can you change your tire?
Yes!
I could figure it out.
I have tried but it wasn't so easy.
Not at all
2-Drivers ED
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Have you taken a driver's ed. class?
Yes, and I aced it!
I'm in one now.
I tried one.
Nope.

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3-Behind Wheel
Artur Debat / Moment / Getty Images
How much time have you actually spent behind the wheel of a car?
A lot!
Not as much as I'd like
I'm not sure, but it's not much.
None
12-Snow Driving
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Have you done any driving on snow or ice?
Yes
Not a lot
Does rain count?
Not at all
4-Learning To drive
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Who taught you how to drive?
My parents
A sibling
A friend
No one, really

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1-Paycheck
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Do you have a steady pay check?
I sure do!
Sort of?
Not a good one
Not even close
5-Car For Sale
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Can you afford a car right now?
Absolutely
I could afford some cars.
I dunno, what does a car even cost?
I mean, not really.
8-Text And Drive
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Can you resist the urge to text and drive?
Of course!
Probably?
I sure hope so.
You can't text and drive?

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9-Highway
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Does the idea of driving on the highway make you nervous?
Not at all
Maybe a little
I've never thought about it.
Very much
10-Car Insurance
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Have you compared insurance companies?
I sure have!
I've looked at a couple.
Not really
Wut?
11-Gas Pump
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Do you know the difference between regular and premium gas?
Of course!
The price?
I think so.
I didn't know there was a difference.

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13-Car Money
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Are you going to be covering all the auto expenses yourself or will you have help?
It's all me.
I'd have help.
I'm not sure.
I hope someone else is covering it all.
14-First Car
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Do you know what car you want to get?
I've researched a few options.
I can't afford the car I really want.
I'm good with whatever.
I know exactly what car I want.
15-Fuel Gauge
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Say you're out shopping for a new car. How far down your list of priorities is gas mileage?
It's a pretty important factor for me.
It's up there, I guess.
It's not a big concern.
Meh

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16-Used Car
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Does the car have to be new or are you OK with used?
Used is probably best to start.
I'm OK either way.
I'd rather get a new one.
I want a new car.
17-Ugly Car
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Are you willing to drive an ugly car?
Of course!
I'd rather not, but whatever works, I guess.
Well, how ugly are we talking?
Not at all!
18-Car Brands
Pixabay by Adrian Maur
Does brand reputation mean anything to you?
Not really
I don't think that matters.
Well, some brands seem better than others.
I want a car that's made by a cool company, I guess.

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19-Behind The Wheel
Andreas Kuehn / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Do you feel confident when you're behind the wheel?
You bet!
Usually!
It depends on the situation.
Not at all
20-Drivers Form
asbe / E+ / Getty Images
Practice makes perfect, so how long have you had your driver's license?
Over a year
I just got it.
Still working on it
I don't have one yet.
21-Car Keys
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Would you ever let a friend borrow your car?
If they were a good driver
I'd think about it.
I don't think so.
Sure, why not?

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22-Girl Dancing
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Do you do a lot of extracurricular activities?
Tons!
A couple
Not many
None
23-DL
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Once you were old enough to drive, did you jump on getting a license right away or did you wait?
I got it first thing!
I was a little late.
I didn't get mine until my early 20s.
I don't have it yet.
24-Teen Driver
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Do you feel like you're a responsible person?
I like to think so.
Usually
I could do better
Not so much

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25-Young People
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Why do you want a car anyway?
To get to work and school and stuff
Just to get around more easily
Everyone else has one.
Because it'd be awesome
26-Trunk Space
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What is the single most important thing to consider about getting a car?
Reliability
Cost
Trunk space
How it looks
27-Young Man
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Do you care what other people think of you?
Not really
I try not to.
I care what some people think.
Well, yeah

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28-Finance
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When it comes to financial responsibilities, are you paying all your bills on time every month?
Always!
Usually
Not always
What bills?
29-Dream Car
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What is your dream car?
Tesla Model S
Cadillac Escalade
Porsche 911
Lamborghini Huracan
30-Parking Lot
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Let's say you open your door in a parking lot and hit the car next to you, leaving a dent. What do you do?
If no one is there, I leave a note.
If it's really bad, I could leave a note.
If no one saw it, then I'm gone.
Run like the wind

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