Have you been car shopping in the past and felt overwhelmed? You may have just needed the right piece of advice to help you navigate the process. Keep reading for some useful tips on how to buy a new car.
Go to different dealerships before settling on one. A different dealership might be able to get you a better price on the car you want, and may be running different promotions. Try three or four in your area, and even if you have to travel a bit farther, it may be worth it.
Never buy a car on your first purchase to the showroom. Every car dealer will try to get you to walk out with a new set of keys in hand. While this may be tempting, understand that this is a big purchase. Take your time shopping around and make sure that the deal you’re being offered is really the best one for you.
Watch out for the up sells in the financing office. When you reach the financing office, you will always be offered an extended warranty, interior protection, gap insurance and other such add ons. Make sure that you understand these well before making a decision to purchase them. Most are not worth the money you will spend, and you’re better off saving each month in the event that you need a repair or your interior gets a stain.
Don’t forget to look into the cost of parts for a vehicle before you buy it. Some cars, especially imports, cost significantly more to maintain than others. Investigate the cost of parts that wear out frequently, such as tires, brakes, and windshield wiper blades. Research the cost of alternators, spark plugs, and other engine components, too.
Shop around before you even go to the dealership. If you spend some time on local dealer’s websites, you can learn about incentives that are offered. If you know what one dealership is offering, you can use it as a negotiating point and may be able to get a better deal.
Before you go in to look at a new car, make sure you have thoroughly researched the proper trade in value of your current car. In fact, why not try to sell it yourself first before you buy. Either way, you will get more from your vehicle if you know what it is really worth.
Bring a spare set of keys with you to the dealership. When they ask for the keys to your trade in, give them the spare. Some dealerships will use your car keys to hold you hostage if a deal is not made. You want to avoid this, so make sure you have the ability to walk out of the dealership at any time without having to ask for your keys.
Test drive more than one car before you buy it. Any new car is going to feel fantastic if you’re used to driving an old one. Think seriously about how the ride feels, where the buttons are located, and how much of the road you are able to see. Test-driving more than one car will help you realize where you want to be.
Bring someone with you. Your friend can offer you an unbiased opinion. You need to take a friend with you when shopping so they can help.
If you are trying to determine your trade-in value for your current vehicle, be sure to take it to a few dealers. By going to a few different dealers, you’ll be able to get a rough estimate of how much your car is actually worth. This will allow you to turn down low ball offers that someone may make for your car.
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.
Check for dealer incentives. You might want to call ahead to a few different dealerships to find out which promotions; they are running that may benefit you. Do that before going out to a million different spots. Just use the phone and ask them personally, and you may be able to save more on your car.
When looking to buy a new or used vehicle, make sure that you never elude to the fact of how much money you have on your person. You only want to talk about what you think you should put down in regards to the terms and price of the vehicle being discussed.
Don’t tie yourself into one make or model, but also avoid opening yourself to every single car. You should go into a dealership with a goal-orientated flexibility. This means that you need to research two or three cars beforehand and then be willing to switch between these based on the best negotiation.
Look into all of the fine print on your financing papers. Just because your monthly payment is lower does not mean that you are getting the car for less. It could just be a way to get you to buy the car for the original price so the salesman can keep the entire amount of commission that he set out to earn.
Ask people you know about where they bought their vehicle and their experience. You can learn a lot from other people’s experience, which can save you a lot of time and money. Do not be shy about it. People usually enjoy sharing their experiences with others, whether they be good or bad.
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.
The next time that you are in the market for a new or used car, just remember what you have read in this article. Use what you learned here to help make your car shopping experience a good one. The tips here can be referred to often.