There are people out there that know a lot about cars and know exactly how much every make and model of car are worth. On the other hand, some people have no knowledge of vehicles, including their value. If you are someone that fits into the latter category, this article will do you well!
Prior to purchasing a used car, make sure that a mechanic inspects it thoroughly. If a dealer does not want to allow this, look elsewhere. A mechanic can offer an impartial opinion about the vehicle. He can determine whether the car has hidden damage from previous accidents or being submersed.
If you don’t know how to deal with sales pitches that are high pressure, get a companion to shop with you. Bring a relative or friend along to help negotiate prices and remember important questions. Talk to this person ahead of time, and make sure they understand how much you are willing to spend and what you have to have in a car.
If you are paying a high payment on a luxury vehicle right now, do not take that car with you. Once salespeople see your expensive vehicle, they will not accept any of your offers and try raising prices because they will assume you can afford to spend more on a vehicle.
Remember that you have the option to purchase a vehicle from somewhere other than a dealership. You may be able to find what you want from a private seller or a smaller dealership. Check out the classified ads in your area for great deals on local cars.
Test Drive
Be sure to always test drive a car before buying it. It doesn’t matter that you may already have decided on the car. You should still take a test drive regardless. You need that hands-on experience. You may find yourself unpleasantly surprised by a rough ride or coarse handling.
Car salesmen have quotas to meet. Take advantage of car shopping at the end of a month. If a salesperson is behind on their monthly quota, they will be ready to lower prices to get you to buy a car. You might get a better deal this way.
An auto show is a great way to understand the type of car that you desire. Auto shows are great places to compare different cars to each other. You will also be able to ask questions of people that know about these cars. This will give you valuable information that you will need to make your decision.
This first thing you should do when you are considering purchasing a car is figure out what your budget is. You need to be certain of what is affordable for you. Determine how much you’ll be able to spend on a monthly car payment. Even look for a loan prior to your car search.
Social Security
Be cautious about giving out your social security number. Dealers run your credit as soon as they are able to. If that ends up not being the dealership for you, getting credit reports pulled at several dealers may actually harm your financing options. Therefore, wait until you have negotiated a deal before giving out your Social Security information.
Your trade-in should be kept a secret. First, you need to negotiate the best price possible and lock them into it, and then you can mention the trade in. If you tell them about your trade-in too early, you may get an even worse deal on that, so you have to be careful.
If you know the specific model that you want, call the dealership to see if they have it on the lot. Salespeople will try to sell you the car at all costs if they have them available. When they have no sedans, there’s no point in even going. Calling in advance can save you a lot of time and hassle.
You should contact your insurance agent and get a quote for the model you are interested in. Although the car may be in your price range, the insurance may make it out of your budget. Select a model you can afford both to buy and insure.
Make sure you look for rebates prior to getting a vehicle. Lots of car dealerships offer on-site rebates. Some dealerships will be sneaky and not even mention any rebate.
You should not be pressured into buying a car. Dealers are masters at high pressure sales and try to get you out the door with a car. Don’t fall for this tactic. Most of the time “special promotions” will continue to be there until you’re ready to make a purchase.
Find out from acquaintances what the best dealerships are in your area. See if their dealers are recommended. Ask them about service they’ve received and how many repairs the vehicle has needed. If you get multiple endorsements of a single spot, make sure to pay that dealer a visit.
Investigate your finance options prior to car shopping. You will have a better idea of what you can afford. You’ll also be harder to sway when presented with tempting offers of lower monthly payments or small down payments on a car outside of your price range.
Never feel like you’re in over your head again when you go shopping for a car. You’ve got the intelligence, and you can now make smart decisions about car buying. When you know you got a good deal on you car, driving it around can be even more fun. So, really enjoy shopping!