Car shopping is something that some people love and some people dread. The best way to ensure that the process is something you can enjoy is to arm yourself with information well in advance of setting foot into a dealership. By using the information that follows, you will have what you need to do just that.

Have a clear understanding of what those upgrades will cost you. Purchasing the fancy stereo, leather seats and DVD player might be appealing, but those options can add a significant amount to the price of your car. Take some time to think about how much you really need the upgrades, and only purchase the ones you will use the most.

When buying a used car, be very careful about how clean the car is. Many car salespeople have professional cleaners who can make a piece of junk look brand new. Always get the car checked by a mechanic. Even if it looks fantastic, a mechanic will be able to spot any major issues.

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.

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.

When negotiating a deal on your new car, have online information in hand. There are many sites that will provide you with things like invoice pricing and incentives, and this information can prove valuable as you negotiate your price. Print it out and bring it to the car dealership, so there is no question about the accuracy of what you are saying.

It is a good idea to do plenty of research on cars before you ever go to a dealership. The more you know about a particular model, the better you can judge whether it is right for you. There are many online resources that let you compare different brands and models.

Although monthly payments are important when considering a new car purchase, many times a dealership will extend the length of the loan and raise the interest rate to get smaller payments. To avoid this do not negotiate payment amounts until you have negotiated the sales price of the vehicle.

Don’t let the salesperson know you have a trade in until you have a firm sales price in hand. Some dealers will inflate the price if they think you’re trading in a car, so they can offer you a lot for the trade in, which is, then balanced by the new price they give on the car they’re selling.

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.

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.

When in the finance office, read your final contract thoroughly. Many dealerships will try to rush you through this step, and they may change important information or financing terms as a result. Make sure the terms are exactly what you agreed to. If they are not, ask them to make changes before you sign anything.

As soon as you feel the high pressure sale coming on, you should leave. Even if a salesperson wishes for you to stay, just go. Lie if you have to. Move on! You have so many more options open to you. You do not have to deal with unsavory salespeople.

It’s usually better to do car shopping at the end of the month. Salespeople want to meet their monthly goals by making another sale that could put them in their desired count. Give yourself a few days to negotiate with them before the end of the month and you will likely get an even better deal.

If a car salesman tells you, a deal is only good for today, do not fall prey to this trick. Dealerships like to put a sense of urgency into the negotiation process in order to get you to make a hasty decision. This always works to their benefit, and it rarely works to yours. If a deal is offered to you today, any reputable dealership will extend it to you tomorrow.

Buying a car near the end of a calendar month can prove advantageous. Dealerships have quotas that they want to reach. If you buy near the end of a month, you help them get those last sales to meet that quota. Sometimes, this can be used to get a car at a better price since they really need to make sales.

If you live in a place where cars are required to pass emissions, make sure it passes before buying. It can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to get a car to pass inspection. In some cases, you cannot get the car registered to you without passing these inspections.

There is no need for car shopping to be a dreaded part of your life every so often. By taking the time to acquire a bit of knowledge about what to expect, it is possible to have a good experience when you purchase your next vehicle. By revisiting the facts above whenever necessary, you can have confidence in your ability to get the vehicle you truly desire.