Drivers planning to buy a new car in March 2025 have been urged to check one thing before paying in order to prevent an expensive mistake.

With the launch of the new set of '25-reg' number plates just days away, many drivers are looking forward to buying their next set of wheels.

However, Rory Brimmer, Director of Turo UK, highlighted that many new cars have changed radically in recent years, meaning it is vital that drivers do their homework before they choose what to buy or lease.

He explained: "This isn't like ten years ago when you could jump into a new Corolla knowing it would feel similar to your old one.

"With entirely new drivetrains, software systems, and even new manufacturers entering the market, drivers need to spend proper time with cars before making what is often their second biggest purchase."

March is one of the biggest months for car sales in the UK, with motorists across the country wanting to be the first on their street to own a model with the new number plate.

However, whilst drivers may be tempted to rush in to the first deal they find, Turo recommended that motorists find out how easy the model they are interested in is to own.

One of the easiest ways of doing this is by checking at how the vehicle succeeded in reliability studies, and looking at feedback websites such as Trustpilot to see what the manufacturer's customer service is like.

Rory suggested that drivers should be particularly careful when buying their first electric vehicle, considering factors such as whether it offers enough range and where they can charge it.

He continued: "EVs are fantastic - I drive one all the time - but they do feel radically different to traditionally-fueled cars.

"And that’s before you even start having to work out how easy it is to charge them where you live."

In addition to checking factors such as the reliability and practicality of the car they want to buy on paper, Rory also recommended borrowing an example for a few days via a vehicle-sharing platform.

He added: "You need to test how it handles your commute, whether it fits your weekly shop, and - if it's an EV - how the charging works in your daily routine.

"These aren't things you can figure out in a 10-minute dealer test drive, but you can work these out with an extended test drive on a car-sharing platform like Turo."