You may not have had the greatest experience when buying a used or new vehicle. Many people have come out on the wrong side of a deal, but the good news is that this is easily corrected. Things work out better when you are sure of what needs to be done. Use the following tips to get a great deal on your next purchase.

Be sure that you know what type of car you’re looking for and some specifics, such as price, before you leave to go car shopping. How much money can you afford to spend? How large is your family? What are you looking for in gas mileage? Do you want a car with two or four doors? You should make a list of all the features you are looking for, and bring it with you when you go shopping for a new car.

Do not make the mistake of focusing on only the monthly payment amount when you are car shopping. This can cause you to buy a more expensive car than you can really afford. You need to focus on the total cost of the vehicle itself and whether that is a good deal.

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.

Test drive the vehicle you are interested in before beginning any negotiations. It doesn’t matter that you may already have decided on the car. You should still take a test drive regardless. There is no substitute for direct and personal testing. You may find the car doesn’t handle as you would like or isn’t as smooth as you expected.

Make sure to take your time. Even if you are really excited about buying a car, don’t run out and buy it on the same day. Make sure that you have taken the time to do research on safety, repairs and other factors before doing something you might end up regretting.

Ask the dealer to let your mechanic examine the car. Choose an honest mechanic with a good reputation. The mechanic should be someone that you hand pick personally. He should tell you both if it’s a good deal and whether it is ready to be driven.

No matter how far into the purchase you have gone, remember that you are not tied down into one-car dealership until you sign papers. Even if the salesman is very friendly, it is just business. If you find a better deal elsewhere, you have no obligation to purchase from your first dealer.

To make your negotiations go smoothly when purchasing a new car have a minimum of a twenty percent down payment saved. By having a down payment, you will be able to lower your interest rate and payments and have leverage when discussing your trade in options. You may find that you will net more savings by not trading a car in and selling it on your own.

Research the resale value of the car you are considering. This way, when the time comes to sell the car you are buying, you will be able to get a decent amount of money back out of it. You do not want to end up stuck with a car because you owe more than you can sell it for.

Educate yourself about incentives before embarking on the negotiation process. You have to understand how much your trade-in will garner, warranty information, which rebates are available and more. Entering into negotiations for your vehicle purchase will go much more smoothly if you already know your options.

Really think about the bells and whistles you will need on your car. Many trim options are only available with certain packages. For example, if you want heated seats, you may be required to buy a package that includes leather seats. You may have to make a few concessions in what you get or how much you’ll have to pay to move up to higher trim levels.

Bring up the fact that you have a trade in after you have negotiated a fixed price. You might not get a great deal on your trade in, but do not be stern and do make compromises. You need to seal the deal now that you’ve gone through all this effort.

Consider how the vehicle will be used before you decide which to buy. If you drive a lot on the highway, you should invest in a vehicle with excellent mileage for instance by choosing a hybrid. By knowing where you’ll be driving the most, you can get a car that fits exactly in with your driving.

If you have flexibility, try to wait for a promotion with low interest. If you are really patient, you may even be able to find zero interest periods. This will make the total price you pay for your car be significantly less than you planed to pay. Keep an eye out for local dealerships running this.

Before you go to a dealer, research on the resale value of your car; do not accept a purchase price of the new automobile based on your own assumptions of your car’s trade-in price. This way, you’ll know how much you can reasonably expect to get for your old car.

There are many options other than going to a dealership to buy a car. For example, auto brokers or buyers’ agents are available to help you through the process. This lets you sit back and have them do the work, while it will cost you a bit extra for the service.

Great deals will not simply appear by magic. You must be the one who actively searches for them. It’s important that you are prepared to handle all the sales pitches that salesmen will try to use on you. You must understand what you are up against and what you can do to make the numbers work in your favor. Above all, use the information from this article to help you along the way.