Shopping for cars is generally a stressful experience. It does not have to be, though. With a little knowledge and determination, your car shopping experience can be devoid of stress. Use the tips that follow to make your car shopping experience one that you enjoy, with a shiny new car to show for it.

If you buy a vehicle from an individual, make sure that you have it checked out by a mechanic first. If the current owner declines to let you do this, take that warning sign to heart. The car may have costly issues that make it worth far less than the asking price. You probably shouldn’t get into this without figuring out who they are first.

You should never pay the full sticker price of a car. No dealer truly expects you to pay exactly what they ask. If negotiation is not something that you personally excel at, bring along someone that does. It is smart to know what an appropriate price for the specific car is in advance so that you can decide how much you want to pay.

Ask your friends for tips and advice. How satisfied are they with their vehicles? Do they wish they’d gotten another one? Have they heard of any other vehicles that might be better? When you’re in the market for a car, this is a good way to get some preliminary information that you can start with.

Bring a spare set of keys with you to the dealership. When they ask for the keys to your trade in, give them the spare. Some dealerships will use your car keys to hold you hostage if a deal is not made. You want to avoid this, so make sure you have the ability to walk out of the dealership at any time without having to ask for your keys.

Many people who have bad credit end up at a buy-here pay-here dealership. Be very careful of these types of dealers. Usually they buy cars at auction for little money and the majority of the money they make is off of the high interest rates they charge. If you have any choice, always get a loan from a bank, not the dealership.

Don’t tie yourself into one make or model, but also avoid opening yourself to every single car. You should go into a dealership with a goal-orientated flexibility. This means that you need to research two or three cars beforehand and then be willing to switch between these based on the best negotiation.

Avoid the warranty options offered by car dealers on used cars. They are almost always overpriced and usually do not cover the more expensive repairs that you would want to have done Instead, purchase your warranty separately from a trusted warranty company that you find on your own. If you do not know of any, ask a friend or family member for advice.

You can shop for cars without going through tons of stress. While car shopping is something that many view as stressful, with some general tips, you can be driving off in your new car in no time at all. Use these tips to help you make your car shopping experience enjoyable.