When you buy a car, you need to invest time in learning about how to make the process easier on you. You have to gain the knowledge necessary in tipping the scales in your favor. Luckily for you, you’ve found this article and will be armed with exactly the knowledge you need once you’re done reading it.

Before you leave to shop for a car, it is essential to understand your true needs. How much money can you afford to spend? What number of passengers must fit inside the vehicle? How many miles per gallon would you like? Do you want a four door vehicle or something a bit smaller? Make sure to jot down all the qualities you want in your car.

Ask the car dealer to show you a vehicle history report. This can tell you if the vehicle has been in an accident or if it has been recalled. It can also show you what repairs have been done and when they were done so that you know exactly what you are buying.

Do not buy a car without test driving it. Even if you have previously test driven the same make and model, you need to make sure that this car drives well. It’s possible that the vehicle has some defect or issue that might affect the way it handles on the road.

If you think you need a new car, give your bank a call prior to shopping for one to see if you can obtain a loan. This can provide you with important peace of mind. Normally a dealership can give you a better interest rate than a bank.

Search for your new car online before you ever visit a dealership. Searching online allows you to look at inventory from multiple dealerships, and it makes you privy to information about online only pricing. This is a great way to comparison shop and really make sure you are getting the best deal.

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.

Never turn over your trade-in keys to the salesperson before the deal is finalized. Some pushy salespeople will hang onto them in an effort to pressure you into hearing them out, even after you have turned down a deal. Keep the keys in your possession and only hand them over when the deal is done.

Know your credit score before you enter the showroom. Your credit score will help to determine your financing rate, and knowing it helps you to understand how much you will have to pay for your car. The best financing rates are often reserved for those with the best credit score. Knowing yours can help you to be realistic about your chances of getting the very best deals.

You are a female shopping for a car, never agree to work with a salesman who treats you in a condescending way. Some salesmen will try to take advantage of female shoppers and offer them unfair prices or financing terms. This is not what your car-buying experience should be like. If it is, visit a different dealership.

Speak with the car dealer about his return policy. You may even want to get the policy in writing. Even if you have test driven the car and everything seems fine, you never know what could happen later that day or week. It’s important that you know what the dealer’s policy is on returning it in case something should happen.

It is illegal for a dealer ship to roll back the odometer on any car they sell. Even if they put a new motor in the car, it is still illegal. If you suspect that a dealer is not stating the correct mileage on a car, leave and shop elsewhere.

Sit down and write a list of what you want in a vehicle. There should be a separation between things you need and things you want. If you find a car that meets all of your needs, you should not hesitate because it does not have every single thing that you want.

When in the finance office, read your final contract thoroughly. Many dealerships will try to rush you through this step, and they may change important information or financing terms as a result. Make sure the terms are exactly what you agreed to. If they are not, ask them to make changes before you sign anything.

When purchasing a car, you don’t want to tie yourself down to one specific model. Give yourself some flexibility in color and even in the car itself. If you do this, you will be able to pick up a great deal, even if it was not the first car you considered.

If you start to feel uncomfortable or pressured by a salesman, just walk away. They may ask you to stay, but don’t. If you do not want to leave without a good excuse, do not hesitate to make one up. Leave if you do not feel comfortable at any point. You have so many more desirable alternatives available to you. There is no reason why you should be uncomfortable during the process.

If you are considering purchasing a used car, you might want to buy a membership to AAA. There is a little bit of unknown when buying a used vehicle. If you have the AAA membership, they will come and help you if you have trouble. They will even tow your car for free to have it fixed.

Now that you know the above tips and tricks, you also know how to buy a car successfully. You’ll get the lowest price, find the best car and even make the salesperson end up with the least commission, all because of your knowledge. Buying a car has never been this easy!