Buying a car is not something that you should take lightly. Car shopping can be about picking out a car that you like, of course, but keep in mind that the car you choose has to protect your family in the case of an accident, and has to be able to get you where you need to go. Here are some wise suggestions to consider when car shopping.

Prior to even stepping foot in a dealership, you need to know what kind of car you want. If you have kids, maybe you should be looking for a van or large SUV. If it is just you, maybe you want something more sportier. Either way, knowing what you want will make the whole process of shopping for a car easier.

You should not make a deal you are not sure about. You will probably find it surprising that a vehicle you need is already being offered by someone privately. Use social networking sites and classifieds to help you find the car you want at a good price.

Always take a test drive. If you have the car you want choosen, you need to teast drive it. This will give you a real life feel of the car. You may notice trouble with the brakes, misfiring, sticking or slipping gears, or a number of other factors that the dealer didn’t tell you about.

Try renting cars to get a better feel for the vehicle. If you need to know what a car really feels like, go to a rental place so you can test drive it extensively. Take the car and your family on a road trip. This is an easy way to get lots of first hand experience with a vehicle before making the purchase commitment.

Never purchase a car the same day that you find it. A rule of thumb is to sleep on the decision. That way you have time to think about the pros and cons of the car and how much you think the car is for you. Do not worry that the car will be sold in the meantime as there are many more out there.

The prospect of buying a new car can be simultaneously exciting and daunting. By doing just a little reasearch you will be well aware of how to get the best deal. Many websites offer side by side comparisons of various vehicles. This can help you narrow down the choices, which may save time and money.

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.

Stand firm on your down payment. Cars can be sold with no down payment; however, some money down will help the final cost. Be wary of sellers who ask you to increase your down payment. This extra money will typically only go into the pocket of the salesperson and dealership, and does not help your bottom line.

Make it clear to a car dealer that you have a certain budget, and you want to stick to that. This can stop them from offering you vehicles that are far more than you can afford. Be firm on that and do not bend. This will make it more likely for you to get a car that is well within your budget.

Speak to loved ones about who they bought their car from. Their advice should help steer you in the right direction. You can trust what they say as they are likely to be looking out for your best interests, which makes their advice far more reliable than that which you find on the internet.

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.

Take extra care when car shopping if you are a female. The sad fact is that some salespeople believe that women are uninformed buyers and will try to take advantage. Arm yourself with research on prices ahead of time, and don’t be afraid to walk away if your salesperson seems condescending.

You can benefit by waiting to buy your car during the last week of the month. Dealerships try to meet monthly quotas. By purchasing a car towards the end of a month, you will be making your dealer meet his quota. You can utilize this fact to your advantage when bartering.

Be responsible when buying a used car. Even if all the statistics on the brand and model you are buying are excellent, you do not know how the car was maintained. Get a qualified mechanic to check it for you. They can spot major issues that you need to avoid before purchase.

Look into the “hidden” expenses associated with buying that car. This includes insurance, gas, maintenance and more. Check out the miles per gallon and some of the maintenance charges you will have to face. If you find out it will cost you extra, you might want to think about it more.

If you must have that brand-new car as soon as it rolls off the production line, understand you will pay more for it. Cars are always more expensive the second they roll off the line, and it is easier to get a deal on them after they have been in the dealership for a few months.

Your car is a big part of your life. You need a vehicle that can help you to get around, keep you safe, look good, and save you money. The choice you make will be with you for a long time, so it is important that you do what you can to make sure your choice is a good one. Use the tips here and you will be sure to make the best choice for you.