A car represents one of the most substantial purchases you are likely to make in a given year. The key to striking the best deal and getting the vehicle you need is to spend some time doing your research. Use the advice that follows below and you will have the facts you need to make a smart decision.

Always ask the seller if they are willing to let you do a test drive. While some private sellers may not offer you the chance to do a test drive, there are many that will. You should try to do your deal with someone who will allow you to see how the car runs.

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.

Take time to look over the dealer prior to making buying offers. You should know about their trade-in policies and finance options. You can also learn which dealers to avoid completely through reviews by former customers.

Have a budget in mind before you go car shopping. This involves assessing your monthly income and bills, and having a clear understanding of how much you can really afford to add to those. Doing this will help you to stay in budget when you make your new car purchase.

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.

Get the cost on the car in stone before you discuss trade-ins, or any other monetary exchanges. You want these extras to reduce the price. You can get the best price this way.

You should shop for a car online. You’ll find a plethora of options there. Learn all you can about the vehicles you are considering before you even step one foot on the car lot. Everything can be found online: MPR, size, specs, and even ratings.

Work on your credit score before you buy a car. A bad credit score means higher interest fees. That will result in a higher monthly car bill. And in some cases, that will result in higher premiums for car insurance. Get your credit in order so you aren’t locked into high fees for the life of your car loan.

Shop at month’s end. Many salesmen have to meet a quota at this time so they are much more likely to give you a better deal. A salesman may be a bit behind on their monthly quota and be more desperate to make a good sale.

One of the most important things to consider before making a car purchase is which car or style you want. By deciding this before entering a dealership, you will be able to avoid high-pressure sales. It also helps you to consolidate your searching and really inform yourself about one specific make and model.

Never agree to pay the asking price! There are few cars for sale out there that do not have some room for negotiation in the price. When you have researched the vehicle, inspected it and given it your approval, negotiate the final price based off your findings. Do not settle on a price until you are happy with your investment.

Check a vehicle’s overall consumer rating before you make a purchase. The great thing about consumer reports is that you can save yourself from making a bad purchase very easily. These reports can tell you how much you should expect to spend on repairs and how long the vehicle will last on average.

Investigate cash rebates and discounts you are eligible for. Sometimes, there are discounts for veterans and students, for example. There are all kinds of discounts and rebates that are often run. Do a little research and find out if you qualify for any of the special deals that are available. That could save you some money on your car.

Understand that introductory terms are just that, introductory. Therefore, know what to expect afterwards, and assess your budget to make sure that it accommodates it nicely. If you don’t, you could find yourself getting duped by one of the oldest tricks in the book. Don’t let that happen to you!

Whenever you are in the market for a car, be it new or old, make sure you take it for a test drive. You need to get a feel for your car to see if you can picture yourself driving it day in and day out so this step cannot be emphasized enough.

Bring up the fact that you have a trade in after you have negotiated a fixed price. While you might not get top dollar for the vehicle, that is okay. You are close to getting the deal you want, so giving a little is okay in this instance. Now, you must make the sale.

A great tip for anyone contemplating a vehicle purchase is to ask friends and family members if they are privy to any manufacturer’s discount programs that may result in a lower overall price. Many car makers and parts suppliers operate “friends and family” discount programs in which employees can provide others with discount codes that can be used to generate substantial savings on new cars and trucks. Taking advantage of such opportunities is a great way to make your dollar stretch even further at the dealership.

New car shopping is stressful simply because it involves spending such a great deal of money. Education is critical to making a wise choice, given the abundance of choices available. Review the information above as needed, and the process really can be easier than you may have ever imagined it could be.