Some people don’t know when to trust a dealership or when they are being duped. It’s not easy to tell, and the salesmen don’t just out themselves. You have to know what you’re doing, and you need to be prepared. Consider the helpful tips you’re about to read in order to get you better prepared for next time.

Never leave your car with the dealership overnight. Many dealerships will offer you the opportunity to take the car that you are considering home in order to test drive it longer. While this is certainly appealing, it essentially means they are given the opportunity to hold the car you own hostage. This makes it more difficult to walk away from a bad deal, and it is not to your advantage.

Know what you want before you step foot in a dealership. You are going to be dealing with professional salespeople, so have your mind made up about what you are willing to pay, what you want and what you are not interested in. That will make it less likely for them to sway you.

If buying from a private individual, make sure your mechanic checks out the vehicle before cash trades hands. If the seller doesn’t allow the mechanic, walk away. The car you are looking at might need some new parts or might even have been in a wreck. You shouldn’t put yourself in a situation where a surprise may arise.

If you are going to be purchasing a used car, one of the top things you should be looking at is the mileage of the car. As nice as a car may be, if it has 150,000 miles on it already, you probably will not get much use out of it.

Do your research before you even step foot on a car lot. You want to have an educated position when it comes to such a large purchase. It is a good idea to know what models you are interested in, and what the fair price is for those specific cars.

As you shop for your car, think about fuel economy. You may feel the need to buy a V-8 that can tow things. While it is nice to have this capability with your vehicle, is it something that is affordable for your year-round use?

Don’t start negotiating on specifics before you’ve got a set price on your desired vehicle. Those are things that ought to further reduce the best price obtained. This will help you get a better deal.

You don’t have to buy from a dealer. You will probably find it surprising that a vehicle you need is already being offered by someone privately. So before heading out to a lot, go pick up some classifieds, read up on Craigslist, and check other venues to see if you can find a good deal.

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.

When heading to a car dealership, get prepared for your bargaining side to come out. While there many be some dealers who have your best interest at heart, most just want to get as much money out of you as they can. This is why you have to be strict and never settle on a deal you are uncomfortable with.

Never purchase a car the same day that you find it. A rule of thumb is to sleep on the decision. That way you have time to think about the pros and cons of the car and how much you think the car is for you. Do not worry that the car will be sold in the meantime as there are many more out there.

When buying a compact or subcompact car, make sure that it has enough room for each person who will drive it. The car may be your daily driver, but it may not have enough leg room for others in your household. If there is a chance that someone else will drive the car occasionally, bring them along while shopping.

While you may know exactly what you want, you may not be able to get it. Your wishlist of options and features might not match your budget, or the vehicles currently available just don’t match your desires. Luxuries like heating in the seats shouldn’t make or break a deal.

Get a vehicle history report for any car you are seriously considering. All you need is the vehicle identification number (VIN). This report can tell you about the car’s accident and repair history, as well as whether the car has been in a flood or other disaster. Some sites allow you to pay for a one-month subscription, which is handy if you will be pulling reports on multiple vehicles.

Know what is on your credit report before you attempt to purchase a vehicle. It will be used against you, and if you don’t know what’s on there, then they can manipulate the information to use it against your further. Stay well-informed, and make sure that they can’t get one over on you.

Calculate the yearly mileage you will be driving. This will help you decide if you should lease a vehicle or purchase a vehicle outright. If you normally drive less than 1,000 miles a month, you should consider a lease. A leased car generally has lower payments than a car purchased outright.

Be wary of financing if you plan to get another car soon. If you want to get a car without putting any money down, and plan to get a new car in a year or two, you’re setting yourself up to carry balances from car to car. You’ll end up paying more than the car is worth.

It’s a wonderful thing to know what you’re doing when you go to buy a car at a dealership. Now that you know more of what to look for and do, you will be much better prepared the next time around. Put everything you’ve learned together, and make sure you are one step ahead next time.