Have you decided that it’s time to get a new or used car? Are you not sure what you can do to make shopping for one less stressful? You are in the right place if so. Here you’ll go over a few of the things you need to think of when you go car shopping, so read along.

Before you set foot into a dealership, do some research online. Check nearby dealership’s websites and record their listed price on the vehicle you want, as well as any special deals they might be offering. Having this information at your disposal will be a valuable asset when it comes time to negotiate with a salesman.

Don’t overlook gas mileage when considering a new vehicle. For example, it may seem like a good idea to purchase a V-8 with towing capability. However, are they features that you will frequently need or use? If so, are they useful enough to offset the lower fuel economy?

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.

See if you can do your car shopping at month’s end. Most car dealers have quotas for their salespeople that they are trying to meet at this time. At the end of the month, the salesmen may still be behind on their quota and could be more willing to negotiate a better deal with you just to get a car sold.

You might have an exact picture of what you seek, but getting it might not be perfectly possible. Some cars may not offer all of the features that you’d like while staying in your price range. Believe it or not, you can still enjoy a vehicle if it doesn’t have heated seats and a premium set of wheels.

It is a good idea to do plenty of research on cars before you ever go to a dealership. The more you know about a particular model, the better you can judge whether it is right for you. There are many online resources that let you compare different brands and models.

While you may want to buy a car today, buying off the lot may mean that they don’t have a car with the features you desire. You can always ask them to call affiliated dealerships to see if they have the car on the lot, but don’t sound desperate or they’ll raise the price.

Offer to purchase a car on the spot if the dealer will meet your price requirements. Offer a price that is reasonable, usually at or slightly above invoice. Come armed with information about how you came to this price, and ask for a commitment in writing that they agree to it.

Whenever you have discovered a car that interests you, ensure that you thoroughly inspect it. Look for dings and flaws on the vehicle’s exterior. Inspect the interior to find rips, stains or other flaws. Remember, once you make that purchase, the car is yours. This includes every imperfection that comes with it.

Before you make your final selection of a car, talk to your insurance agent. Some types of vehicles can cause your insurance to go up significantly. This increase in monthly insurance premiums might leave less in your budget to afford the car of your dreams. By having a clear understanding of the total cost to own the car, you can make an educated decision.

Check into the service department found at any dealer you are considering. Make inquiries to see if current customers are happy. Call the department and ask for assistance on something that you already know so that you can test them. Select a dealer that has a competent staff so that you have a good source to turn to when the need arises.

You should get rid of the price of advertising in the fee. You should not have to pay money for that fee at all! If they choose to continue in this way, walk away. They will always back down.

Be sure you’ve discovered rebates beforehand. Rebates are given to entice you to buy. If the dealership is less reputable, they will simply pocket the rebate.

Bring up the fact that you have a trade in after you have negotiated a fixed price. This will help you in negotiating and give you the best possible deal. At this point, it is time to finalize your deal.

You shouldn’t accept the price of a new car solely based on your opinion of your old car’s value. Make sure you thoroughly research your old car’s trade-in value prior to going. This gives you a better idea of what sort of offer you should be getting.

If you have a few cars in mind that you’d like to look at, be sure to check out the insurance cost first. People tend to forget about the cost of insurance until after they’ve made a purchase. This can lead to having a larger monthly bill than you expected, which may make the car too expensive for your price range.

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.

This guide should have helped you learn all that there is to know about car shopping. It doesn’t have to be that a difficult task if you know exactly what you’re doing. Take the advice and you’ll be able to take most of the stress out of shopping for a car.