The truth about car hunting is that not everyone enjoys doing it, even though having a new car usually is enjoyable. Research is the key to understanding the entire car purchasing process. Start by going over the ideas in the following paragraphs and you can get going into this process well prepared.

Do not let a dealer talk you into buying more car than you can afford. A lot of people purchase a sports car solely because the dealer talked them into it. Salesmen earn money on commission, and some salesmen put their own financial gain before your best interests.

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.

As you shop for a vehicle, make certain you find one with high safety ratings and options. Anti-lock braking systems are essential. It is also important to have air bags. After all, you’ll be in your vehicle alot. Therefore, safety is important.

When shopping for a car, consider how the vehicles fuel economy will affect your budget. As an example, you may want to buy a car with enough power to tow a boat behind it. But, ask yourself whether your truly need that additional power.

Read all of the fine print that is on the contract for the car you want to purchase. Even if you think the car salesman is being perfectly honest with you about everything involved, you need to make sure you are not signing anything that you will have regrets about later.

When buying a compact or subcompact car, make sure that it has enough room for each person who will drive it. The car may be your daily driver, but it may not have enough leg room for others in your household. If there is a chance that someone else will drive the car occasionally, bring them along while shopping.

Find out the vehicle’s mileage before you agree to purchase it. Even if you know a particular car should get a certain gas mileage, be sure that it still does. A car can lose its efficiency overtime, which can mean a large expense in getting to the places you need to go.

Take your time when buying a new car and do your homework. Do not be afraid to get up and walk away from a deal. Don’t fall in love with a specific car. If the numbers the dealer is giving you are not what you want, just walk away.

Don’t expect to make a purchase in your first dealership. In fact, if you do so, then you are probably making a bad purchase. Shopping around is always important, and this is especially true when it comes to making an intelligent purchase with a car or truck. Take your time and look around.

Investigate cash rebates and discounts you are eligible for. Sometimes, there are discounts for veterans and students, for example. There are all kinds of discounts and rebates that are often run. Do a little research and find out if you qualify for any of the special deals that are available. That could save you some money on your car.

Take fuel economy into account when calculating the cost of a vehicle. When you are determining your monthly car payments, figure out how much you’ll end up paying for gas each month based on the fuel economy of the car. A more expensive fuel-efficient car and a less-expensive gas guzzler may end up costing you the same amount out of pocket each month after you’ve figured in the amount you’ll spend on gas.

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.

Consider fuel economy during your car buying process. While a cheaper model might set you back a bit more in the short run, it might also allow you to save thousands in fuel expenses over time. Keep this in mind as you choose a model.

If a car salesman tells you, a deal is only good for today, do not fall prey to this trick. Dealerships like to put a sense of urgency into the negotiation process in order to get you to make a hasty decision. This always works to their benefit, and it rarely works to yours. If a deal is offered to you today, any reputable dealership will extend it to you tomorrow.

Test driving is essential. There can be problems that do not show up until you reach a certain speed or need to do a certain maneuver. Do as much testing as you can so there will be no surprises after the contracts are signed.

When you buy a car, you must know about its fuel economy. You don’t want to drive a vehicle which was cheap to buy but expensive to run! Find a car which is a happy medium of low initial investment plus reduced cost to fill the tank. The better the MPG, the happier you’ll be.

Many people feel that it’s intimidating to purchase a vehicle. The truth of the matter is that with a bit of time spent preparing ahead of visiting a dealership, it is possible to actually have fun shopping for a car. Start the process off on the right foot by using the tips above.