Tyres
These are probably the most important parts of any car as they are the only things that connect you to the road. Always make sure they are in good condition and that they are at the correct pressure. When the time comes to change them, buy the best you can afford. To nick a well known phrase, “Because you’re worth it”

Take a look at how tyres are tested and why you'll want to use the best.

Once the tread depth is below 2.5mm they'll start to lose grip in the wet and you should get new ones. Low pressure will cause uneven wear, make the steering heavier and waste fuel. High pressure will reduce the tyres grip on the road and also cause uneven wear.

Check your tyres frequently by looking for uneven tread wear and 'bumps' on the sidewalls. 'Bumps' probably indicate that the tyre has been damaged, perhaps by hitting the kerb or when you you didn't see that hugh pothole last week. Uneven tread wear indicates that your wheels aren't pointing the way they should and you'll need to get the car to a garage or tyre centre to get it sorted.

Statistics
Don’t become one. Young drivers, especially blokes, are far more likely to be involved in accidents, to often serious or fatal ones. It might not be fun to be reminded but drive sensibly, don’t drink and drive, don’t drive when you’re tired and don’t show off. The consequences might hurt much more than your wallet.

If you know somebody who's like this, have a look at the Deadly Mates site to see if you can help them stay alive.

Insurance
This is probably going to be your biggest annual expense so shop around to get the best deal. Look for policies that can get you to a higher No-Claims bonus as quickly as possible…… but you’ve not to have had an ‘at fault’ accident in that time. Beware of 'insurance fronting' if you get a car insured in your parent's name.