A little bit of knowledge goes a long way in all situations in life. Buying a car is no different! That means you need to read advice from experts, as detailed below, to ensure that when you shop for that car, you really know what you’re doing and how to get the best deal.

Establish a budget before you go car shopping so you have a great idea of what is in your price range. Try your best to stay within your budget. If you must go over, the amount that you go over should not be so significant that it puts you in a financial bind.

Rather than buying a brand-new car, purchase a lightly used one that is only a couple of years old. Many cars come with transferable warranties that last for three years or 36,000 miles. You will save a significant amount over buying new, and the warranty will give you peace of mind for the first year or so.

Find out about the different warranties that are available. You do not want to spend a couple thousand dollars on a warranty that is not going to cover the repairs that commonly occur. Instead, shop outside of the dealership to find one that will cover the repairs at a better price.

Set a budget and stick to it when shopping for a car. It can be very hard to stick to a budget when you find a car that you really want, but there is nothing good about an impulse buy. Figure out what you can afford before you start looking so that you do not break the bank.

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.

Have a friend or family member that sells cars come along with you as you search for a new car. Car salesmen can be very aggressive, but if they know that you are with a fellow salesman you will have an easier time getting the deal that you want and deserve.

When negotiating a deal on your new car, have online information in hand. There are many sites that will provide you with things like invoice pricing and incentives, and this information can prove valuable as you negotiate your price. Print it out and bring it to the car dealership, so there is no question about the accuracy of what you are saying.

If you are looking to purchase a used car, it is of the utmost importance that you get a copy of the vehicle maintenance and repair history. This will allow you to see what has been done to the car, and if it has been in any serious accidents.

Many people who have bad credit end up at a buy-here pay-here dealership. Be very careful of these types of dealers. Usually they buy cars at auction for little money and the majority of the money they make is off of the high interest rates they charge. If you have any choice, always get a loan from a bank, not the dealership.

Stand firm on your down payment. Cars can be sold with no down payment; however, some money down will help the final cost. Be wary of sellers who ask you to increase your down payment. This extra money will typically only go into the pocket of the salesperson and dealership, and does not help your bottom line.

Dealers and salespeople are different. They’re not all overbearing and pushy. Dealerships are starting to realize softer sales means customers that are happy. You can always remove yourself from a situation involving a pushy salesman. There are salesperson with very different styles that you will have to choose from.

Speak to your insurance company so you’re able to get an estimate on the vehicle you’re thinking of buying. You may think a certain car is affordable for you, but there may be high premiums attached to it that you aren’t aware of. You want a car that strikes a balance between cost of the auto and insurance.

When you want a car with certain features, you may have to special order it, but you may not be able to if the car comes from overseas. That said, the dealer may be able to call other lots to find the exact model you want and have it brought over for you, so ask for that option.

Keep your emotions in check when you are in the dealership. Salesman are trained to recognize emotions, and they will work off of that training to sell you the car you want for more money. Try to keep a straight face about the deal, and do not give hints as to your level of excitement. This will help you to get the best deal on the car you want.

Do some research on the car’s hidden costs. This includes insurance, gas, maintenance and more. Find out what octane of gas, variety of oil, and expensive parts are associated with your car. These can change the cost of your car, significantly, in the long run.

Ask the dealer to include a 72 hour grace period to return the car in the contract. It is almost impossible to learn everything there is to know about a vehicle during the shopping process, but major flaws usually show themselves in the first couple of days. If they are not willing to do this you should steer clear of them altogether.

Whether you wanted to save money, buy a great car, avoid buying a lemon or just be able to take control of the situation, this article has the advice you needed. It just takes simple steps towards gaining the knowledge you need. When you use what you’ve learned here, you’ll truly get what you want.