Best Cars To Buy When You Get a New Job

Stacy Sare Cohen

According to a Statista survey of 7,649 people, 73% of Americans use their cars to commute to work. But for many drivers, cars are more than a means of transportation to get from point A to point B. Vehicles can be status symbols, purchased for practical reasons, chosen for size to fit into tight parking spaces and of course, selected to match each driver’s budget.

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If you’ve landed a new job and are shopping for a new or used vehicle, these are some of the best cars to buy for your new role.

Also, here are seven tell-tale signs it’s time to buy a car.

Uber Drivers

If you’ve started driving for Uber and it’s time to upgrade your car, you’ll need a comfortable ride for you and your passengers. Make sure the seats aren’t too stiff and provide good back support and leg room. After all, you’ll be in your car most of the day when you get a lot of bookings — and a comfortable trip for customers can mean repeat business.

If you’re planning on doing airport runs, you’ll need a vehicle with ample room such as an SUV or sedan with generous trunk space for luggage. Uber and Lyft drivers opt for fuel-efficient vehicles such as EVs or hybrid vehicles.

Best cars for Uber and Lyft Drivers:

  • Honda CRV

  • Kia Soul

  • Honda Accord Hybrid

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Teachers

Teachers are the unsung heroes that shape young minds, dedicated to their careers and students. When shopping for a car for your new teacher job, consider a model with room for all those books, lesson plans and classroom supplies. A car with a roomy backseat or a spacious trunk makes a great car choice for the new teacher.

As teachers earn modest salaries, especially first-year teachers, choose a vehicle that’s fuel efficient and has low insurance premiums. Teachers can also take advantage of the NEA Auto Buying Program, which provides savings at dealerships for members.

Best cars for teachers:

  • Toyota Prius

  • Ford Taurus

  • Hyundai Sonata

Real Estate Agents and Sales Representatives

Real estate agents use their cars to drive clients to showings and open houses. The best car for a Realtor is one that’s stylish. However, stay away from anything flashy, such as loud muscle cars or small sports cars, that can be tight on space.

Agents don’t require room to store a lot of materials, so size isn’t an issue unless you work in a city that’s short on parking. Realtors need to make a good first impression, so make sure your car is clean inside and out and has working AC. The best thing about using a car to transport clients is you can use it as a tax write-off when you file your taxes, so save those receipts.

Best cars for real estate agents and sales reps:

  • Toyota Camry

  • Lexus ES

  • Hyundai Santa Fe

Home Improvement Pros

Whether your job is a general contractor, electrician, plumber or a handyperson, you’ll need to use your vehicle to store your equipment and supplies, including ladders, power tools and parts. Most home improvement professionals own cargo vans and pickup trucks.

Pickup trucks have the benefit of having a bed to load more lumber or other large materials than a cargo van can hold. That said, pickups often have a stiffer ride for long distances and can present a security risk. If you live in an urban area, consider a smaller model to squeeze into tight parking spots.

Best cars for home improvement professionals:

  • Ford Transit

  • Chrysler Voyager

  • Dodge Grand Caravan

Information Technology Professionals

Whether you’ve been hired as an application engineer, a database administrator or an IT technician, it’s likely you love everything high-tech. IT professionals often seek the latest tech tools and systems from new AI dashboards and brake assist devices to autonomous driving technology and smartphone-compatible infotainment systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Best cars for IT professionals:

  • BMW 7 Series

  • Audi A8

  • GM Super Cruise

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Best Cars To Buy When You Get a New Job

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