You want to buy a new vehicle now, do you? That’s good, but do you know about the common mistakes car buyers make? If you would like to receive some great information on the car-buying process, check out the tips listed below.

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.

If you are in the market for a used car, you should always get a CarFax report. The CarFax report will let you know if the car has been in an accident. If the car has been in an accident, you probably want to keep searching and not buy that car.

Think ahead when you are planning on making a car purchase. Do not make the mistake of buying a car without thinking about whether it would be practical for future use. Buying a sports car will not make much sense if you are planning to have a family anytime in the near future.

Consider selling your car privately, rather than trading it in for the new car you want. You will almost always get more for your car through a private sale than you would through a trade in. Even if the dealership makes it sound like they are giving you a great trade in value, they will likely raise the price somewhere else to make up for the difference.

You should shop for a car online. It is possible to find just about any car you want on the internet. Figure out all you can on the various vehicles you want prior to getting out onto a car lot. By using the Internet, it is possible to come up with ratings, specifications, MPG, size, resale value and much more.

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.

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.

Do not get all the extras offered during the negotiation. These things include extended warranties, clear coat and fabric care options. You can generally purchase these features after you have bought the car for a fraction of the price. Also, do yo really want to be paying for these few features over the length of the loan.

If you are thinking about buying a car that is still under warranty. You need to make sure that whatever is left of the vehicle warranty is in writing. You don’t want to purchase a car only to find out that the warranty has been void, leaving you paying extra for nothing.

Don’t expect to make a purchase in your first dealership. In fact, if you do so, then you are probably making a bad purchase. Shopping around is always important, and this is especially true when it comes to making an intelligent purchase with a car or truck. Take your time and look around.

Speak with the car dealer about his return policy. You may even want to get the policy in writing. Even if you have test driven the car and everything seems fine, you never know what could happen later that day or week. It’s important that you know what the dealer’s policy is on returning it in case something should happen.

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.

Financing is often more affordable when you get it from an institution other than the dealership themselves. The rates they offer aren’t great, but they’re sometimes open to lending you money when your credit is bad, unlike a bank. Check out all of your financing options and find out how much you’ll be approved for before you approach the lot.

If you have a certain model in mind, call to see if there is one on the dealer’s lot. Otherwise, the salesman will try to get you to buy something you may not want. But, if your heart is set on a particular car that they do not currently have on-site, you do not need to waste your time. Just pick up the phone.

Avoid signing as-is warranties when you buy a used vehicle. This can be something that you will regret in the future. At minimum, a dealer should provide you with a warranty of 30-90 days upon purchasing any vehicle. If you encounter a technical issue as soon as you leave the dealership, you will have to pay for the repairs.

As stated before, car purchases are filled with easy to make mistakes. Take advantage of the advice you learned here to help ensure you end up in the car you are looking for. With the right information, the process will be quick, painless and beneficial.