Car shopping is an activity that people do sometimes, but many dread it. It can be hard to know much with so many different options for cars. Because of this, its even more difficult to know what a good deal is. The below article provides some excellent advice on how to maximize your experience at a car dealership.

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.

Learn about the true market value of the car before making an offer. Oftentimes, dealers will have the car marked up a certain percent over the value so they have some wiggle room. If you know the market value, you can better haggle with them about the price you will pay out the door.

Always negotiate the price of a vehicle. What the dealers list on the sticker is not what they actually think they will get. If you lack assertiveness, bring along someone who is comfortable with negotiating. You should be sure that you know what a fair price for the vehicle is beforehand so you know what you are willing to pay.

Check out the maker’s site if you want to customize your car. While the cars on the dealership lot may be the kind of car, you want, a number of car manufacturers give you the opportunity to customize the car a bit with color and features. You may have to wait a few weeks more to get your car, but it might be worth it.

Set a budget and stick to it when shopping for a car. It can be very hard to stick to a budget when you find a car that you really want, but there is nothing good about an impulse buy. Figure out what you can afford before you start looking so that you do not break the bank.

Be firm in what extras you want. Almost every salesperson is going to at least attempt to “upsell” you in an effort to get a bigger sale. Don’t let them pressure you into the next model up or features you don’t need. If they claim not to have the model you are looking for in stock, only the “better” one, ask if they can locate one at another dealer.

Form a budget prior to heading out and looking at a car. You need to be certain of what is affordable for you. Find out how much you’re able to spend on car payments monthly. Perhaps you should even put off car shopping until after you have secured a pre-approved loan.

Keep the trade in you’re doing to yourself. First, you need to negotiate the best price possible and lock them into it, and then you can mention the trade in. The dealer will give you a worse deal if you tell him about the trade-in too soon.

Never agree to pay the asking price! There are few cars for sale out there that do not have some room for negotiation in the price. When you have researched the vehicle, inspected it and given it your approval, negotiate the final price based off your findings. Do not settle on a price until you are happy with your investment.

Never shop for a car based on what you want to pay monthly. Most car sellers will try to help you shop around a monthly payment. This means they can put you in a car that is not what you want by telling you it is what you can afford. The only one who wins is the dealership.

You should test drive the car you want with every feature you desire. For example, test driving a manual model when you want automatic won’t show you anything. If they don’t have the exact model on the lot, go to a lot which does for the test drive as you can always go back for the purchase, if you want to.

Do not forget to calculate the cost of owning a car when you are working out a budget. For example, a vehicle that costs more but gets better mileage may be cheaper over the long run than a less-expensive car with poor fuel economy. You should also include resale value and insurance premiums in your calculations.

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.

Check into the service department found at any dealer you are considering. Check the Internet for customer reviews. Call the department and see how they respond to your questions. Stick with a dealer that has educated staff on hand.

Never give your trade-in’s keys to the dealer before you’ve come to an agreement. The dealer could take your keys (and thus, your car) hostage and manipulate you into an unfair deal. Always hold on to your keys and if the dealer wants to take a look inside the car, open it up for them while you hold the keys.

Hone your negotiation skills before you go to the lot. Practice with friends and family to help you prepare for the big day. Read online to find out what sort of sales tactics dealers use. This will give you the answer to any question they ask, keeping the power in your hands.

Finding that car you desire at a price that works for you isn’t easy. When you know what to do, you’ll have no problems reaching your goals. Use the knowledge that you have gleaned from this article the next time you look into purchasing a vehicle. You may be surprised at the deal you walk away with!