Buying a used car can be tricky, no matter how much you already know about cars. There are lots of different things to consider so that you don’t end up buying a piece of junk that breaks down right away. Use some great tips of the trade in the following article to help you make your next car choice.

Determine your maximum budget before you set foot on the lot. When shopping for a vehicle, do not look at vehicles above your price range. Remember, they won’t be paying for it, you will.

Do not pay for lots of extras when you are buying a car. Sure, it would be nice to have a lot of fun features in your new car, but do you really need them? Every toy or gadget you add jacks up the price of the car considerably. Figure out what you really need, and just stick to that.

If you know you are easily convinced by salespeople, you should not go shopping for a new car by yourself. A friend can be brought along to help you figure out the worth of the car and ask questions that are important. Before you even go out to look at cars, make sure you and your friend are on the same page regarding your budget and needs.

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.

Never turn over your trade-in keys to the salesperson before the deal is finalized. Some pushy salespeople will hang onto them in an effort to pressure you into hearing them out, even after you have turned down a deal. Keep the keys in your possession and only hand them over when the deal is done.

If you are shopping for a new car, you might want to leave your kids at home. They might have a good time going on a test drive or two, but they will usually end up being bored. This will make it difficult to focus on the task at hand and could possibly end up costing you money.

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.

Although monthly payments are important when considering a new car purchase, many times a dealership will extend the length of the loan and raise the interest rate to get smaller payments. To avoid this do not negotiate payment amounts until you have negotiated the sales price of the vehicle.

When purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle that comes with a warranty, make sure you read the fine print. Most warranties on these vehicles only cover power-train and don’t cover much else. There are also cases in which the warranty may not be transferable which would make it void in your case.

When you decide that it’s time to start car shopping, it’s a good idea to figure out how much you can pay for a car. It’s important to look at how much the car is going to cost you overall, not just the monthly payments. It’s easy to extend your term so that your monthly payment is affordable, but you may be seriously overpaying for the car this way.

Do you want to buy new or used? There are certain situations that might make it better for you to buy new, but if your budget does not allow for it, there are great used deals as well. Learn about warranties and rebates on both new and used before you begin shopping.

Break down all of your different negotiating points based on the different profit centers that the dealer has. This means you should be negotiating on price, warranties, interest rates, trade-in value and anything else that is up for negotiation. Taking this approach will get you the best overall value for the car you choose to purchase.

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.

Check out local auto shows as you’re considering what to buy. These let you inspect every inch of the latest models, although you can’t test drive them. You can also talk to the experts on hand who will often know more than the salespeople on the dealership’s lot when you visit.

Understand that dealerships gain a commission on financing the cars they are selling. Some dealerships will offer you a great rate, asking you to sign paperwork and then later tell you that you do not qualify for that rate. In some areas, you might be committed to the purchase, even at a higher rate. This is a costly mistake, and one you should always avoid.

Do not believe the myth that you always have a few days to return the car after making a purchase. The only state that has a law like this is California. In other states once you sign on the dotted line, the car is yours. This is why you have to be very careful about making a purchase.

As you now know, there are many things to consider when purchasing a used car. There are lots of different warning signs to look out for, but if you take the time and do your research, you can end up with a great car that will last for years to come. So go out there and find your next dream car!