This is not easy to accomplish when you are trying to make as much as possible from a slick car salesperson.
Have an understanding of what you want in a car when you go out to buy one. How much can you afford to spend? How many passengers do you need to drive around? Is fuel economy a particular concern? Two doors or four? Make a list of what you want, and bring it along to keep your memory refreshed.
Get your loan before visiting the dealership. If you walk in with a loan already, the process will take a lot less time.
Shop around online before you go to a dealership. You shouldn’t visit a dealership until you know precisely which make and model you desire. You should search online to find which car might be the best choice for you, which cars are the safest and other things that a dealership won’t tell you.
Pay attention to the overall price of the vehicle and not just the monthly payments. Dealers can alter monthly payments to fit your budget, but that doesn’t mean the car is costing you any less. Get the best deal you can on the total cost of the car. Once you do this, determine how this will apply to you monthly.
Monthly Payment
When negotiating, focus on the price of the car overall, rather than the monthly payment. Dealers are able to get any car into a particular monthly payment level, but you’ll pay monthly prices for years on the total cost of an outrageously-priced car. Negotiate the best overall deal for the car. Then you can determine what your monthly payment will be.
Set a budget before visiting a dealership. When shopping, do not go above the maximum amount you can pay, no matter what the dealer tells you. Do not let the salesperson talk you into purchasing an expensive car if you are going to spend the next years struggling to make your payments.
Talk to your friends and family about what they have heard. Are they satisfied with their vehicle? Do they think the one they made? What do they hearing in terms of cars that are available?
When shopping for a vehicle, never pay more than your budget allows, no matter what the dealer tells you.
MPG plays a huge role in a car purchase. A V8, with the power to tow your boat, may seem quite attractive. Think about when you would actually use this and then factor in all that extra gas.
Test drive any car before you buy.
Safety is an important feature you are shopping for a new car. Anti-lock brakes or ABS are an absolute must for any car. Safety is of the utmost importance because you are often in your car.
Shop at month’s end. Salesmen at most dealerships try to reach a quota for the month, and will want to sell as many cars as they can. At the end of the month, the salesmen may still be behind on their quota and could be more willing to negotiate a better deal with you just to get a car sold.
Call the bank about financing you need for the vehicle you are interested in. This is for your own peace of mind. Usually the finance department at the dealership can find you a better rate than your bank, but it can help if you find what interest rate you’re looking at prior to shopping.
Don’t drive your really expensive car to the dealership.Once they see what you are driving, they will not accept any of your offers and try raising prices because they will assume you can afford to spend more on a vehicle.
When you locate the car you want, go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Check the outside of the car for scratches and dents. Look inside for carpet stains or damaged upholstery. Do not forget that once you make the purchase, the car belongs to you. This will also include stains, dents, rips, and any scratches.
Visit a local auto show so you can more easily determine which types of vehicles would suit your needs. Auto shows provide you with a rare opportunity to do side-by-side under one place. You can also get the opportunity to talk to people who know a lot of car experts all in the same place.
You should know exactly what your maximum is. Determine how much you’ll be able to spend on a car. You may want to go loan shopping prior to actually shopping.
Don’t accept an as-is warranty! You will quickly regret it. All reputable dealers offer 1 to 3 month warranties. You will have to pay for any repairs if the car breaks down the day after buying it.
Now that you have perused this piece, you ought to understand how to handle car salespeople and their techniques. You won’t have to worry about being told things you do not know, and you can figure out salespersons’ tactics. Keep the previous advice in mind when you shop.