The sticker price is not the budget
Buying a car never comes down to the price of the vehicle. Within the first weeks come registration costs, insurance whose first payment falls immediately, and often a first visit to the garage: tyres, a service, brake pads.
For a used car, also plan for a valid inspection and, ideally, a pre-purchase check. Spending a few tens of euros there regularly avoids far heavier repairs, and gives you a negotiating point if a fault shows up.
The right reflex is to think in terms of a complete budget: the price of the car, plus 8 to 10% for getting it on the road. That total is what belongs in the calculator, otherwise you will find yourself short the month you buy — exactly when you thought you were done.
New, used, and what it changes for your savings
A new car comes with a full warranty and predictable running costs in the early years, but loses value sharply within months. A recent used car, typically two to four years old, leaves that drop to the first owner while keeping much of the reliability and sometimes part of the warranty.
For savings built month after month, a recent used car is often the best compromise: it cuts the amount to gather considerably, and with it the wait, without exposing you to heavy unpredictable repairs. The price difference translates directly into months saved.
Be careful with much older cars, though. A low purchase price is regularly offset by repairs that arrive quickly and cost a lot. A car bought for 2,000 that needs 1,500 of work in its first year is not a bargain, especially when your savings have just been emptied.
Save, finance, or both
Saving the full amount takes time but costs nothing and leaves you free. Financing lets you buy straight away, at the price of interest and a monthly payment that sits on your budget for several years, whatever happens.
The middle path, and the most common, is to build a deposit and finance the rest. The larger the deposit, the shorter the loan and the less it costs. Every extra month of saving before you buy therefore reduces the final bill.
If you do go for finance, run the numbers on the total monthly payment, interest and insurance included, and check it stays sustainable alongside your current costs. A payment that absorbs your entire saving capacity leaves no room for surprises — and with a car, surprises are not hypothetical.