Owning a car is a must for many people, but shopping for a new car can be a real pain. If you have been putting off buying a new car because of this, the advice in this article can help. Before long, you will be driving the car of your dreams.

Make sure that you have your loan in place beforehand. The process of buying a car can take a long time due to the fact that they must look over your credit score in order to obtain a lender. If you already have an approved loan, it will move much quicker.

Ask the car dealer to show you a vehicle history report. This can tell you if the vehicle has been in an accident or if it has been recalled. It can also show you what repairs have been done and when they were done so that you know exactly what you are buying.

When buying a used car, a great way to tell if the car has been in an accident is to look into the door frames. Usually when a car is repainted, you will notice over spray in this area. This is not proof that a car was in an accident, but it will let you know it was repainted.

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.

If you are shopping for a car, spend some time at the dealer. Don’t rush yourself by planning something later in the day. Therefore, you should set aside a full afternoon to do your car shopping. If you don’t have time, don’t fear leaving and returning another time.

When you look for a car, check out the ones that offer you a lot of good features in the safety category. The brakes and suspension are two things to take into account when car shopping. You should also get as many airbags as possible. You’re going to be spending lots of time inside this vehicle, so be sure that it is safe.

If you are insecure about your ability to avoid sales pitches by high-pressure salesmen, do not go car shopping alone. You can bring a family member or friend to help you with negotiations. Discuss your needs and the limits of your budget with your adviser before you visit a car lot.

Call the bank to see if you can get the financing you need for the vehicle you are interested in. This is something that is good for your security. Your dealer may be able to locate a better interest rate than your financial institution can, but you should know that ahead of time.

If the price of a car is non-negotiable, see if you can negotiate on other terms. Some dealerships will agree to provide several months’ worth of free gasoline or a year of free oil changes, for instance. It never hurts to ask if a salesman can sweeten the deal.

Make sure that when you are car shopping that you know what you’re looking for first. Call around to some of the dealerships and see if they have something you’d be interested in. You may also be able to find their website and check out the vehicles before spending time going up there.

Never settle for the price that’s set for the car when you’re shopping for one. You must be a great negotiator and try to knock a little off the price. Every car dealership knows that they’re going to have to negotiate anyway, so they make the car seem like it costs more than they’d settle for.

Set a spending limit before shopping for your new car. It is easy to get swayed by pushy salesmen or a nice leather interior, but it is important that you stay within your budget. You may like the cause of spending extra, but you will not like it when it comes time to pay for it.

Ask the dealer if the car can be inspected by a third-party mechanic. The mechanic you use should be trustworthy. Never use the mechanic the dealer suggests. Having a mechanic there isn’t to drive the price down or to intimidate the dealer. It’s only to ensure that the car is worth buying.

Find out how much it will cost to insure a specific vehicle before you purchase it. Insurers charge a lot more to insure sports cars than other vehicles. Even the color of the car can influence the insurance cost. To guarantee that you are not surprised once you have already paid for the car you must do your research.

Check out how much repairs on a car would cost before buying it. You should be able to get a fair idea of what kinds of costs you will have to pay for repairs. And that’s not just for when it is under warranty. What happens when you have to pay full price for an ignition coil? Different cars cost different amounts, so find out.

Speak with the car dealer about his return policy. You may even want to get the policy in writing. Even if you have test driven the car and everything seems fine, you never know what could happen later that day or week. It’s important that you know what the dealer’s policy is on returning it in case something should happen.

A dealer with a great reputation may offer you a better deal than one which advertises great prices. You may find that a dealer who people like to buy from offers perks which aren’t available elsewhere, including reduced pressure sales tactics and lower overall price due to freebies thrown in to the sale.

Going car shopping does not have to be a frustrating experience. By keeping the advice you have just read in mind, you can make your next shopping trip go more smoothly. With these tips, you can get a great deal on a new or used car that is perfect for you.