By Macy O’Dell | Honor CU

So, it’s your first time buying a car, and probably your first time ever applying for a loan. Whether you’re 16, 18, or 22 years old like me, buying your first car can still seem like a very intimidating, and scary process. After all, it’s probably one of the biggest adult purchases you’ve made up to this point.

I was fortunate enough to have my parents gifted me my first car when I turned 16. They paid $1,000 for it and with a little TLC, it lasted through my senior year in college. After I graduated, I decided it was time to get a “big girl car” before I officially entered the busy adult world. 

I didn’t know where to start, what I could afford, or where to go to begin the process. So, what did I do? I turned to my mom… Moms know everything, right? She told me that my first step was to get pre-approved for an auto loan. 

Even though I was nervous that I would be turned away because of my limited credit and no co-signer, I took my mom’s advice and headed down to Honor Credit Union to get pre-approved. I quickly learned that Honor has a program for people just like me, a first-time car buyer.

I sat down with a member specialist and immediately felt at ease. They helped me figure out how much I could afford and set me up with a manageable term for my loan that best fit my circumstances. And to add on to my excitement, they even got me an incredible competitive low-interest rate!

GET STARTED: Enjoy low auto loan rates & flexible terms with Honor

Honor took care of the hard part for me. They set my budget and quickly gave me a loan to make my purchase. Next came the fun part… Car shopping! 

After doing some research, shopping around, and asking for a little bit of help from my “car expert dad,” I decided on a Ford Escape. It was big enough to keep me safe during Michigan winters, but stylish enough to make me look like the cool adult I was trying to be. 

While finances can be intimidating, they’re far from scary with the help of Honor. I am now cruising down the road in a new car feeling like more of an adult than I ever have before, and making on-time payments to establish a great credit score for my next big girl purchase.