Shopping for a car can be an extremely stressful experience. Many people don’t know much about cars, while others know enough to feel like they are getting ripped off. When you use what you’ve learned here, you’re sure to come out a winner.

Do not allow anyone to intimidate you into making a purchase that may not be the right one for you. Do not fall for lines like “This will be gone if you try to buy it later.” These types of statements are usually made to sway you into make a purchase right away.

When sitting at the bargaining table, take the time to negotiate the price of the car before talking about your trade-in. Doing this will help you get the best price on both vehicles. To do this effectively do not discuss trade-ins until after you have settled on a price of the new vehicle.

Figure out how much you can afford on a car payment before you get there. If you wait, your eyes will be big, and you will be willing to pay anything to get what you want. Start out with a firm figure and do not allow yourself to be moved by anything the salesman says.

Decide whether you want a used car or a new one. A new car has the obvious advantages, but used cars can be a pretty good deal as well. There are many certified used cars now that have been found to perform well, and cost substantially less than new cars do.

All car dealerships are not made equally. If you find one store to have prices that are very expensive, just walk right back out. If they have overpriced their products, you can feel free to assume they will not take this negotiation seriously. Look for a reputable dealer instead.

Look no further than the Internet when you are looking for a used vehicle. You do not even have to go to the dealership until you are sure. Look in classifieds, on Craigslist, and on eBay. This is a good way to save money and stay away from the salespeople you will find in dealerships.

Many of the perks a dealer offers are really expensive, including rust-proofing, paint sealant and anti-theft devices. Shop around before you even approach the lot to find out what local car shops are charging for these services, and then take the quotes you get with you to either get a deal from the dealer or skip those add-ons totally.

If you know what kind of car, you want, and you know what dealership you want to go through, give them a call before you go. This way, the dealer can have the car ready for a test drive when you get there. It will save you and the dealer time that could be spent negotiating.

Never give your trade-in’s keys to the dealer before you’ve come to an agreement. The dealer could take your keys (and thus, your car) hostage and manipulate you into an unfair deal. Always hold on to your keys and if the dealer wants to take a look inside the car, open it up for them while you hold the keys.

If you are considering purchasing a used car, you might want to buy a membership to AAA. There is a little bit of unknown when buying a used vehicle. If you have the AAA membership, they will come and help you if you have trouble. They will even tow your car for free to have it fixed.

Be wary of financing if you plan to get another car soon. If you want to get a car without putting any money down, and plan to get a new car in a year or two, you’re setting yourself up to carry balances from car to car. You’ll end up paying more than the car is worth.

Consider buying your next vehicle close to the month’s end. Dealerships have monthly quotas that they must meet every month. If you wait until month’s end, they will feel pressured to meet their quota. You can utilize this fact to your advantage when bartering.

When trading in your vehicle, don’t use your personal value as a standard. Take some time to find out how much your car is actually worth. You can decide what is a fair buying price when you factor in how much you can reasonably expect to receive for your trade in.

Make sure you inform yourself not only on the car industry, but also the specifics of the car dealer industry. They have some tricks they use to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. Be sure to keep an eye out for things like unneeded warranties, or insurance straight from the dealership.

An unfortunate truth of car shopping is that women are often targeted as easy sells. If you feel as though you are not being respected, leave that dealership. It is possible to find a female saleswoman, but there are also many dealerships that are modern and understand that women are equally informed.

Always look under the hood when searching for a new car. Even if you do not know a lot about cars, you can certainly look for certain things. There should not be rust and all of the hoses and wires should look mint. If this is not the case, do not purchase the vehicle.

Plan to buy at the end of the year if you can. This is the time when the best deals are available; not only is the calendar changing over, but new vehicles are rolling on to the lot. Begin shopping in October, although keep in mind that December might be the best month to get a low price.

Check for deals online. Thanks to the internet, you can now do the bulk of your car shopping online. You can browse through manufacturer’s websites to preview features, compare prices between dealerships and check the reviews before you shop. While nothing can replace actually walking into a dealership for a test drive and final purchase, you can save considerable time and money by researching online first.

It is hoped that you feel informed about getting the car you would like and feel you deserve. Get rid of the effort by following these easy tips. You and your pockets will be happy.