Car shopping may be on the horizon for you, but you might want to run the other way. Many people are scared by the process, but that doesn’t have to include you. This article has a great number of tips and tricks which will make your car shopping time pleasurable.

Go to different dealerships before settling on one. A different dealership might be able to get you a better price on the car you want, and may be running different promotions. Try three or four in your area, and even if you have to travel a bit farther, it may be worth it.

You should take the car-buying process very seriously. Many people are so happy about the prospect of buying a car that they do not think of the seriousness of the task. Buying a car is a serious financial investment, and you should do all you can to remain businesslike.

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.

Learn about the true market value of the car before making an offer. Oftentimes, dealers will have the car marked up a certain percent over the value so they have some wiggle room. If you know the market value, you can better haggle with them about the price you will pay out the door.

When negotiating, focus on the total price instead of the monthly one. Any dealer can find a way to get you the monthly price you want to pay, but you’ll be paying that price for years because of tons of interest. Then your total car price will be extremely expensive. You should instead focus on negotiating the best deal on the overall price of the car and the financing you get. After doing that, you can work out the monthly payments.

Know what you want before you step foot in a dealership. You are going to be dealing with professional salespeople, so have your mind made up about what you are willing to pay, what you want and what you are not interested in. That will make it less likely for them to sway you.

Check out the maker’s site if you want to customize your car. While the cars on the dealership lot may be the kind of car, you want, a number of car manufacturers give you the opportunity to customize the car a bit with color and features. You may have to wait a few weeks more to get your car, but it might be worth it.

Make a wish list of cars that you are interested in. You have seen many cars in advertisements and on the road. It should be easy for you to build a solid list of vehicles that would suit your style. You can add a couple of dream cars that seem out of your range; however, be realistic about what you can afford.

It may be hard to find exactly what you are looking for. Maybe the cars in your range don’t offer the features you want, or the cars available on the lots in your area just don’t cover your desires. The absence of heated seats will not detract from your driving experience.

One important thing to keep in mind is the overall average value of cars in your country. By knowing the general value, you can see if the car lot where you are shopping is overcharging or not. If you feel all their prices are too high, simply move on to the next one.

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.

Research the laws in your state when it comes to purchasing a bad car. There are some states that have lemon laws. They will protect you from buying a car that isn’t in great condition and not being able to get a refund. Not every state has these laws, which is why it is important for you to do your research.

Wait a bit prior to purchasing brand new models of any car. This will result in paying the highest possible price for the car. Let several months pass and then come back to purchase that car at a lower cost.

As a female, shopping for cars can be hard. If you feel the salesperson, you’re dealing with is being condescending or rude, leave immediately. If they touch you, use misogynistic language or do anything to offend you, thank them for their time and take off. Tell them it’s that time of the month, and they shouldn’t run after you.

Contact a dealership by phone before visiting to make sure they have the car you want. This can help to save you valuable time at the dealership. If they do not have the car you want, they can often get it within a few days from another dealership. Ask them to do so, and ask that they call you when the car is in stock.

When you are using things like rebates, low interest or cash back, you have to keep in mind the source of these incentives. They are exclusively offered by the manufacturer, so don’t let the dealer tell you he is unable to fulfill it. If he says the, simply take your business, and rebate, elsewhere.

These simple tips and tricks truly change the tide in your favor. They give you the knowledge you need to make car shopping smooth sailing. As long as you put them to use, you’ll find that you not only enjoy buying a car today, but that you never struggle with it in the future either.