Car shopping is something which almost all adults will face in their lives. If you want to drive, you’ll have to buy yourself a car. The simple ideas below will help you turn the car buying process into something you not only can handle, but that you are a master of.

You should take the car-buying process very seriously. Many people are so happy about the prospect of buying a car that they do not think of the seriousness of the task. Buying a car is a serious financial investment, and you should do all you can to remain businesslike.

When shopping for a new vehicle, consider all of your options. There are many used cars that have extremely low miles and rock bottom prices. The ones to look for are the ones that have been leased and returned. These cars have been serviced at the dealership and usually have plenty of factory warranty protection left.

When you are shopping for cars, you should take a friend with you. This person has the ability to act as the perfect sounding board, and they can help you leave a deal that is not great for you. They can be anyone from your Mom to a coworker.

If you already have a pretty expensive car, do not drive that to the car dealership to make a purchase. They’ll see that nice car and try to give you a bad offer since they think that you’re walking around with quite a bit of money.

Take an extended test drive. Don’t just take it for a quick spin through the neighborhood by yourself. Instead, enlist everyone who will be regularly riding in the car to share their opinions. Ask the dealer for a full afternoon test drive so that you have the chance to take it on the freeway to check things like the pickup and the blind spots, and spend some time really feeling the comfort of the interior.

Research trade-in prices before turning over your older vehicle. If you are planning on trading in your current vehicle to go towards the purchase price of your new one, be armed with the proper value ahead of time. Checking prices online or using the Kelley Blue Book. Just make sure you are checking the wholesale price, not retail.

Look online for incentives on the car you want. Many automotive manufacturers offer cash back or special financing on their vehicles. The dealership will not always tell you about these things up front. Take some time to educate yourself first so you can get the best deal once you are in the showroom.

Before going car shopping, clean all personal items out of your car. Doing this one thing will save you considerable time at the dealership. This will also ensure that you do not leave behind important documents such as insurance papers. Nothing is worse than getting home and realizing the you left something in the car you just traded in.

Demand a safety report and vehicle history report from the dealer. Any good car dealer will have these items available for any vehicle on the lot. This is information that will tell you how safe the vehicle is as well as any major accidents or work that has been needed on the car.

Make the right car purchase for yourself by deciding major things before entering a store. This includes things like mileage, make, model and even color. You can do a lot of research online to get an idea of prices and avoid the high pressure situations that come with a car salesman.

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.

Do not try negotiating unless you see the car that you want is available. He might tell you that he can get it in for you, but you do not know if it will be the exact one you want. You do not want to waste your time negotiating for a car that you do not really want.

Ask the dealer to include a 72 hour grace period to return the car in the contract. It is almost impossible to learn everything there is to know about a vehicle during the shopping process, but major flaws usually show themselves in the first couple of days. If they are not willing to do this you should steer clear of them altogether.

As a general rule, try and purchase your vehicle towards the end of the month. While most dealers are always motivated to sell you a car, they will be particularly willing to give you a deal towards the end of the month, when they have to reach their quota.

Test drive the competition’s cars. Most people only test drive the car they want. To get the full story, it is best to also test drive directly-comparable cars offered by other car makers. It will give you the opportunity to compare the key differences and to give you confidence in your choice.

Understand that dealerships gain a commission on financing the cars they are selling. Some dealerships will offer you a great rate, asking you to sign paperwork and then later tell you that you do not qualify for that rate. In some areas, you might be committed to the purchase, even at a higher rate. This is a costly mistake, and one you should always avoid.

Consider checking out the resale value of a car you’re considering purchasing. Some vehicles have much better records of retaining value for longer so that if you decide to keep your vehicle for more than three years you will still likely get a good price for your car when you decide to sell it.

Once you tilt the car shopping experience in your favor, the whole situation becomes easy and fun, too. These tips allow you to change the balance, giving yourself the power over the salesperson. In the end, this will help you get a price you can afford on a car you adore.