There is nothing like the stress and frustration that comes with shopping for a car. Who really knows what things you need and what things are just extra. Use this information as a guide along the way to help make the right decisions and avoid poor deals.
Establish a budget before you go car shopping so you have a great idea of what is in your price range. Try your best to stay within your budget. If you must go over, the amount that you go over should not be so significant that it puts you in a financial bind.
Never, ever skip the test drive when you are car shopping. You have to get behind the wheel of that car and see how it feels before committing to a buying it. Make sure you try a variety of driving conditions, including surface streets and interstate driving. Do not forget to try pulling it into a parking space in a shopping center.
Rather than buying a brand-new car, purchase a lightly used one that is only a couple of years old. Many cars come with transferable warranties that last for three years or 36,000 miles. You will save a significant amount over buying new, and the warranty will give you peace of mind for the first year or so.
Figure out your financing before shopping for a car. You can accomplish this with a trip to your bank or nearby credit union. You will often get a better interest rate by doing this, and you will walk into the dealership knowing how much you can really afford to pay for your new car.
If the car you are driving now is expensive, don’t drive it to the dealership. They will look at the car and refuse any lowball offers you make, This is only acceptable if the car you arrive in is going to be something you are trading in.
Research trade-in prices before turning over your older vehicle. If you are planning on trading in your current vehicle to go towards the purchase price of your new one, be armed with the proper value ahead of time. Checking prices online or using the Kelley Blue Book. Just make sure you are checking the wholesale price, not retail.
Before going car shopping, clean all personal items out of your car. Doing this one thing will save you considerable time at the dealership. This will also ensure that you do not leave behind important documents such as insurance papers. Nothing is worse than getting home and realizing the you left something in the car you just traded in.
If you are car shopping and want to test drive some different cars, make sure you bring your license and insurance card with you. Many dealers will want a photo copy of them before you drive. This is just to protect them in case someone steals or damages a car. If you do not have them with you, they might not let you test drive.
It should be clear to you what you should be searching for when it’s time to buy a car. Now, start researching to find the car you need. Keep in mind that you should not buy anything unless you feel totally comfortable with all aspects of the deal. Remember to use the information you discovered here.
