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.

Go to different dealerships before settling on one. A different dealership might be able to get you a better price on the car you want, and may be running different promotions. Try three or four in your area, and even if you have to travel a bit farther, it may be worth it.

What can you afford? You have to understand exactly how much money you have every month to not only pay for the car lease, but also insurance, licensing costs, gas, and repairs. Everything must be covered every single month or else you’ll have to reduce the amount you have to spend on the car itself.

Never leave your car with the dealership overnight. Many dealerships will offer you the opportunity to take the car that you are considering home in order to test drive it longer. While this is certainly appealing, it essentially means they are given the opportunity to hold the car you own hostage. This makes it more difficult to walk away from a bad deal, and it is not to your advantage.

Know what you want before you step foot in a dealership. You are going to be dealing with professional salespeople, so have your mind made up about what you are willing to pay, what you want and what you are not interested in. That will make it less likely for them to sway you.

Put the Internet to work for you. There are millions of cars being sold online. Research vehicles you’re interested in before going to the car lot. You can find specifications, ratings, size, MPG, resell value and anything else that you want to know, all by looking online.

If you are trading your car in, take it to a detail shop and have the upholstery and carpets cleaned along with a wash and wax. Doing this one thing can usually net you several hundred dollars or more in trade-in value compared to a car that isn’t clean.

Remember that the vast majority of salespeople must meet quotas either weekly or monthly. Keep this in mind, and try to head out at the end of each month. Salespeople who have a quota to meet are eager to make another sale. That will put you in a better negotiating position.

Avoid being distracted when you are shopping at a car lot. With so many vehicles available, it is easy for all your research and planning to go out the window. Remember, you should have a clear idea of the vehicle you want before you set foot on the lot, and do not let the salesperson steer you from your goal.

Buy your car at month’s end. Many salesmen have to meet a quota at this time so they are much more likely to give you a better deal. When the month is nearly over, you can get a better deal, since your salesman may be trying to meet his quota.

Never settle for the price that’s set for the car when you’re shopping for one. You must be a great negotiator and try to knock a little off the price. Every car dealership knows that they’re going to have to negotiate anyway, so they make the car seem like it costs more than they’d settle for.

Auto shows are a great way to narrow down your options. Auto shows provide you with a rare opportunity to do side-by-side comparisons of various vehicles in one place. You can also gain insights from folks who know cars well. This will give you valuable information that you will need to make your decision.

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.

Read before you sign anything. You could be getting in some serious trouble if you’re out there blindly signing money away. After you have signed, your legal responsibilities are set in stone. If you do not like what you see, read it over again. If your salesman does not want to let you take the contract home, there is more than likely some hidden clause they do not want you to find out about.

When it comes to purchasing a car, whether new or pre-owned, you need to beef up on your negotiation skills. Cars are intentionally marked up because the sellers understand that a negotiation must take place. So make sure you NEVER pay sticker price for your vehicle and if you can’t haggle, get someone to do it for you.

You can buy a car online, skipping the dealership and allowing you to avoid high-pressure sales tactics. This is even possible for new cars on some lots, so do your research and find the car you want. Obviously, you won’t get to take a test drive if you never go to the lot, though.

If you’re trying to secure a car loan, don’t automatically accept the rate that a person is telling you. Shop around, and see if others have something different to say. Some dealerships will try to give you a different rate just to see if you bear down and take their deal.

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.