So you’re ready to get your first car! Congrats, but do you really know everything that is involved with the purchase of a vehicle. To someone who is new to this world, there are a lot of important factors to consider when buying a car. Read on and learn some helpful hints and tips.

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.

Figure out the financing options before you even look at a car. Talk to either a bank or a credit union about it. This yields better rates, and a more educated purchase.

If you are purchasing a new vehicle, you should be aware of what you can spend. Keep to this budget regardless of how much you a cajoled or what financing options you are offered. You are going to be the one who has to pay it off.

Do your research before you even step foot on a car lot. You want to have an educated position when it comes to such a large purchase. It is a good idea to know what models you are interested in, and what the fair price is for those specific cars.

If you are in the position to buy a new car, you should think about the vehicle’s gas mileage, as that will affect your overall budget. For instance, it might seem good to buy a car with a V-8 engine that has a towing capacity. But you should consider how often you will be using the towing feature and how often you will need the extra horsepower a V-8 offers.

Bring someone with you if you don’t think you can withstand sales pressure. Try bringing a relative or friend to ask important questions and negotiate offers. Brief your companion on your vehicle needs and how much you have available to spend.

If you aren’t concerned about getting the absolutely latest model, consider car shopping in November or December. During this time frame, dealerships will offer deals on the current models. They want to clear out their inventory to make way for shipments of the next year’s models. This means that you will be offered more incentives, lower sticker prices, and more room to negotiate!

Make sure to take your time. Even if you are really excited about buying a car, don’t run out and buy it on the same day. Make sure that you have taken the time to do research on safety, repairs and other factors before doing something you might end up regretting.

Bring a friend who can give you sound advice on your decision. This friend can stop you from making mistakes like allowing your emotions to get involved. Bring them along for a test drive, and ask them if they see any negative aspects to the vehicle.

You need to know what you can spend before doing it. This price should reflect the amount that you would not mind paying and also what the fair price is on the market for that particular make and model.

Check a vehicle’s overall consumer rating before you make a purchase. The great thing about consumer reports is that you can save yourself from making a bad purchase very easily. These reports can tell you how much you should expect to spend on repairs and how long the vehicle will last on average.

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.

You should test drive the car you want with every feature you desire. For example, test driving a manual model when you want automatic won’t show you anything. If they don’t have the exact model on the lot, go to a lot which does for the test drive as you can always go back for the purchase, if you want to.

If you cannot find the exact car that you want, ask your dealership if they can order it for you. Most domestic cars can be custom ordered with the exact upgrades and options that you want. Even used cars are often easy for car dealerships to find and have shipped to their location. You will have to wait a bit longer for this option, but it might be worth it if you have your heart set on something specific.

Take the time to inspect the vehicles you are interested in. Be sure to look for any dents or scratches on the outside of the car. Also, search the interior for stains or tears. As soon as you leave the dealership, any problems you find will be your problem. You will be responsible for all chips, rips, scratches and window cracks.

Try your best to get rid of unnecessary charges such as the advertising fee. There is absolutely no reason for you to pay that fee! If they insist, tell them you’ll walk. This will force them to waive the fee in the end.

Know that the initial counteroffer presented to you isn’t the lowest available price. Instead, make a counter offer and wait for the answer. They don’t want the process to drag on too long either, so at this point you should be getting their best deal.

Hopefully you haven’t been scared away with all of the information given in the article above. Yes, there is a lot to consider when purchasing a car, but when you take your time and do your research you are much more likely to end up with a car that you’ll be happy with for years to come. So go out there and get it done!