Shopping for a new car can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Some people don’t know anything about vehicles, and others may understand just enough to feel they are being taken advantage of.
Before you leave to buy a car, you have to know certain things about what you need. How much can you afford to spend? How many people need to fit into the car? What type of fuel economy are you interested in? Do you want two or more doors? Make a list of your wants, and take it with you when you go shopping.
Get a loan lined up before going to a dealership. If you already have a loan, it will move much quicker.
Search the Internet for great offers.You can literally save thousands by doing online research. When you locate the model you want, either go to the dealership selling the car or have your own dealer get the car for you. If you can make the drive, think about going to them to save a little more money.
Sticker value is always negotiable. The price on the sticker isn’t what the dealer really wants. 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. Make sure you research the car you are interested in first, however, so you have some idea of what to offer.
Get your financing in order before you visit a dealership.You should do this through your bank or nearby credit union. You might get a lower interest rate and you will know what you can afford.
Take the time to research your dealer before you make any offer on a vehicle. You will be able to get a better negotiating standpoint if you understand how they do their strategies. Reading customer reviews is a good way to avoid scams or pitfalls.
Think about both fuel economy, and how much money you have to spend, when you are out looking at cars. As an example, you may want to buy a car with enough power to tow a boat behind it. However, are they features that you will frequently need or use? If so, are they useful enough to offset the lower fuel economy?
Bring a friend on your shopping day.This person can be anyone, a co-worker or a friend.
Get the advice from trusted family members and friends. How satisfied are they with their current vehicles? Do they have regrets about the one they got isn’t that great? What do they know about other cars out there?
The majority of the salespeople have sales quotas to meet every month. By shopping at the end of the month, you can capitalize on this fact. Salesmen who haven’t yet met their quote will be more willing to negotiate. You can get a lower price as they’re more desperate than you are.
When car shopping, do not look at vehicles above your price range.
Don’t feel that you have to only buy from dealerships. You might be surprised to find the car you want from a private owner or small lot. Check online or in classifieds to find cars for great deals on local cars.
Purchasing a new car is both frightening and exciting. You can do much of your shopping online. Many online sites offer side-by-side comparisons and other features to guide you through the selection process. This can help you narrow down the choices, which may save time and money.
Rent a car in order to test them out. This will give you a good idea of what it is like to drive. Go on a trip in that car stands up to the abuse. This is an ideal way to get lots of first hand experience with a vehicle before buying one.
You should know exactly what you can spend on a car. You need to know a monthly budget for your car payments and your insurance. You may want to go loan before starting the shopping prior to looking at cars.
Ask if you can have an independent mechanic do an inspection. You need to use a respected mechanic. The mechanic should be someone that you hand pick personally. The mechanic can tell you if you can drive the car, and if you are paying a fair amount for it overall.
You must have an upper limit on your spending set before going to a car lot.
Keep the trade in a secret. Wait to mention a trade-in until after you have a firm deal on the sales price of your new car.
Don’t accept an as-is warranty! You will quickly regret it. The dealer needs to give you a 30 to 90 day guarantee if you’re buying a car. If you have issues a month after the car is yours, you have to fix them.
Never agree to an as-is warranty if you purchase a used car. This decision can be something that you will regret in the future. You should have at least a two or three month warranty with your purchase.
It is hoped that you feel informed about getting the car you would like and feel you deserve. Apply all of the tips you’ve learned by reading this article. Make a great purchase, and enjoy your new car!
Do some research on incentives before you negotiate. Know about rebates, loan rates, incentive programs, trade-in values and warranties. This also helps you haggle more professionally.