Cars come in many varieties. There are new cars, used cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs. Buying just one of these kinds of vehicles warrants good decision making, as the car is a life long investment. You can make wiser purchasing decisions by reading this article, as it contains advice that can be applied to car shopping.

When you are going to buy a car, you need to know ahead of time which features are essential for you in the car. Have a clear picture of what you want, so you can search for the right price as well as the right car for your needs.

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.

Prior to even stepping foot in a dealership, you need to know what kind of car you want. If you have kids, maybe you should be looking for a van or large SUV. If it is just you, maybe you want something more sportier. Either way, knowing what you want will make the whole process of shopping for a car easier.

Take care of financing before you get to the dealer. This can be done at either your credit union or bank. You will often get a better interest rate by doing this, and you will walk into the dealership knowing how much you can really afford to pay for your new car.

You should never pay the full sticker price of a car. The sticker price isn’t what the salesperson expects to receive for that car. If you feel that your negotiating skills aren’t up to par, take along a friend or family member that has a special talent for it. Before you set foot on the lot, research the vehicle to determine what constitutes a fair price.

Do not wait until you go car shopping to think about how you are going to finance your car. You need to arrive at the dealership with your car loan pre-qualified at a decent interest rate. You are almost always going to be able to get a better deal than the dealership would provide for you.

Speak with your loved ones to see if they’ve heard anything good. Looking back on their experiences, do they feel they did the right thing? How well would they say the car has held its value? What kind of information have they heard with regard to various cars that are available? When you’re looking for a vehicle, this is one way for you to figure out where you can go in your search for a new or used car.

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.

Tell the dealer that you want a mechanic to take a look at a prospective car. The mechanic should be trustworthy. Never use the mechanic the dealer suggests. Your mechanic will be able to let you know whether or not the car is worth the asking price and road-worthy.

Keep your trade-in to yourself. First, you need to negotiate the best price possible and lock them into it, and then you can mention the trade in. Telling the salesperson too soon that there is a trade-in involved can undermine your negotiations.

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.

Decide whether you want a used car or a new one. A new car has the obvious advantages, but used cars can be a pretty good deal as well. There are many certified used cars now that have been found to perform well, and cost substantially less than new cars do.

Looking online can be a great way to find good deals on used cars. You really don’t have to go to a dealership anymore. Instead, look on eBay, Craigslist and your local classified ads. You can save a lot of money and avoid the pressure sales that you encounter at a car dealership.

It is illegal for a dealer ship to roll back the odometer on any car they sell. Even if they put a new motor in the car, it is still illegal. If you suspect that a dealer is not stating the correct mileage on a car, leave and shop elsewhere.

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.

Check out your dealer’s service department. Do some research to find out how current customers feel about the service. Test the customer service department by calling and asking them questions you already know the answers to. You want to select a dealer with great reviews, good customer service, and an impeccable track record.

Remember, many kinds of cars exist, and you have to think carefully before you buy any type of car. The car you choose should last you for many years, therefore you have to make the right choice about the kind of car you want to buy. Keep the featured car shopping advice in mind and you’ll get the car you need.