Being a first time mom, you want to make sure everything is just right. When planning for the day to day routine with your child, the idea of a new vehicle is bound to be brought up. After all, everything from strollers to diaper bags are the new norm. This begs the question, what car is best for my family?

Today, I’ll be breaking down my first time mom car buying guide! After working with hundreds of families to help hone their choices, I know when the time is right (and when it’s not) to purchase a different vehicle.

What I Recommend For First Time Moms

9 times out of 10 when a soon to be parent asked me “what’s a good car for first time parents?” I say: the car you already have! I know this is not the most fun answer, but hear me out- *almost* every car can fit one car seat comfortably.

Rushing into a car purchase so early into parenthood can cause serious buyer’s remorse. Simply put, it can be almost impossible to know what you need before the time actually comes. From a logistics standpoint, the average length of a car loan is 72 months or 6 years. Consider how quickly your needs will change over time!

I’ll use myself as a personal example- I had 3 kids in under 4 years. When I was pregnant with my first, I had no idea how much space children actually take up in a vehicle. This doesn’t account for the importance of easy loading/unloading as well. Although I currently drive a Ford Expedition, I would never have thought to buy a car that large with just one baby on the way and instead would’ve opted for a midsize vehicle, such as a Subaru Ascent.

If I’d agreed to a 6 year loan, by year 4 I’d be at my wits end with the lack of space available.

Through consulting with hundreds of families, I’ve seen time and time again the frustration that comes with buying the wrong car. It’s a difficult choice to make: trade out a car earlier than planned or live with a cramped vehicle that makes you unhappy.

Is Car Shopping Harder With A Child?

I hear from a lot of parents that car shopping feels too time consuming once the baby comes and would prefer to get it out of the way early. I agree, your time will be more limited, but waiting will save you time in the long run because you buy the right car the first time.

But I get it, life happens! So, if you do need to buy a new car before your first baby my best advice is to prepare yourself to go into the dealership with confidence. My car buying course makes the entire experience easy and painless- if I do say so myself.

Make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course! I offer an 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t save at the dealership, so it’s a win-win for any first time mom out there.

How To Plan Your Future (As Best As You Can)

Arguably, buying a car is the second most expensive purchase you’ll ever make in your life, which is both serious and really exciting. I want to help make sure you do it right. Although planning your future might feel impossible, here are a few ways to predict it in a way that feels manageable.

To forecast your family plan, download my free workbook! Although things don’t always go to plan, this workbook will help you get in the right mindset to see how your future aligns with the vehicle best suited for you.