In life, getting what you want starts with some knowledge. You have to absorb what the experts provide you on the topic. Car shopping requires the same research, and this article has all the tips and tricks you need to make shopping for a car a walk in the park.

Always ask the seller if they are willing to let you do a test drive. While some private sellers may not offer you the chance to do a test drive, there are many that will. You should try to do your deal with someone who will allow you to see how the car runs.

Do a little research before you enter the showroom. When you walk into a showroom, sticker prices are usually listed right on the cars. It is important to understand that all dealerships have some wiggle room from these prices. If you do your research online first, you can gain an understanding of how much the car you want is selling for you in your area. This will help you to understand how much room there is to negotiate down from sticker price, so that you get the deal you are really looking for.

Go into the dealership with a bottom line price in mind. The salesman might try to focus on the monthly payments or financing terms, but your goal should be to get the price you want on the car you want. You can always negotiate the financing terms later, or even finance with your own bank outside of the dealership.

Put in the needed time to research any individual dealer prior to entering negotiations. You will make better headway if you understand how they do their financing and how they handle trade ins. Also, reading their customer reviews may help you avoid losing money.

Always negotiate the price of a vehicle. That usually isn’t what the salesmen will expect of you anyway. If you lack assertiveness, bring along someone who is comfortable with negotiating. Know what the fair selling price is before you go so you have some idea of what you want to pay.

When buying a new car, check out reviews of the vehicle on the internet before going to the dealer. If people have had bad experiences with the car you are thinking of buying, you might want to choose a different one. Most new car loans are for 6 years and you do not want to have problems with the car in that time frame.

Test drive the vehicle you are interested in before beginning any negotiations. While you may know which car you want, a test is imperative. A test drive can give you so much information. Maybe you don’t like the ride, or you may find the car isn’t built in a way your body can adapt to.

Work on your credit score before you buy a car. A bad credit score means higher interest fees. That will result in a higher monthly car bill. And in some cases, that will result in higher premiums for car insurance. Get your credit in order so you aren’t locked into high fees for the life of your car loan.

Be careful about giving people your social security digits. A lot of dealers want you to give them your social security number, do not do it. If you don’t want to buy there, having multiple dealers do a credit check can harm your chance to get the best deal. Do not allow anyone to pull your credit until you have hammered out your deal.

Understand the financing office. Most dealerships make the bulk of their money in the financing office. Your interest rate, extended warranties and other add ons are all sold at a premium once you are in there. Understand this, and select any of those options carefully. Most are not necessary for the average car owner.

Keep the fact that you have a car to trade in a secret. First get a price on the new car before negotiating the trade-in. Many dealers will give you a worse deal when they know a trade-in is involved.

If you’re worried about your credit score, you can check your credit report before you go to the dealership. It’s free to check your credit report once a year, so take advantage of that. By knowing your credit before you go to the dealership, you’ll be able to determine if you’d be able to qualify for any low interest financing offers.

Don’t hand over the keys to your trade in until the deal is signed. If they have your car “hostage,” they can use it to pressure you to buy the new car. Wait until the deal is done to ensure you keep control of the situation at all times during the transaction.

Always be leery of any used car dealers on the side of the road. These dealers almost always have a less than reputable reputation. The cars they sell could have flood damage, need major repairs, and are sold without warranty. Once you drive that car off the lot, any problems the car has are now your problem.

Speak with the dealer to make sure your car is available. Whether you want a car or not, just going there may get you sucked into a car you’re not really sure of. When your heart is set on something in particular — a hatchback, for example — you will be wasting your time by showing up at a dealership that cannot meet your needs. Always call first.

If you’re buying a used vehicle, you need to make sure you get a record of any accidents it may have had with previous owners. Just because a car looks good doesn’t mean that it’s in tip-top shape. The dealerships have a nasty habit of making things look better than they really are.

With this knowledge in your mind and this article in your hand, you’ll be prepared for anything the salesperson throws at you. You will know what you want and how to get it, and that gives you the power. The next step is to find the lot you want to visit and take it over with your confidence.