Car shopping can be fun. Don’t believe me? This article has all the tips and tricks you need to turn a new car purchase into an enjoyable journey. Keep reading to explore many easy strategies which will help you find a car you can afford, love to drive and have no trouble buying, too.
Prior to even stepping foot in a dealership, you need to know what kind of car you want. If you have kids, maybe you should be looking for a van or large SUV. If it is just you, maybe you want something more sportier. Either way, knowing what you want will make the whole process of shopping for a car easier.
Before you make an offer on any car, you need to learn all you can about the dealership. You will be able to get a better negotiating standpoint if you are aware of their trade in practices and financing options. Keep in mind that you can also protect yourself by reviewing previous customer reviews.
Do not base your car buying decision solely on price. While price is certainly important, so is the reputation of the dealership. You want to find a place that is known for great customer service and standing behind the cars they sell in case you have any problems down the road.
Find out all you can about rebates. You can either get a cash rebate, low loan interest rate or the dealer themselves gets the rebate in cash. It is the manufacturer who offers these rebates, not the dealership. This will only be available on cars available on the lot, of course.
Watch out for dealership advertising fees. These are often tacked on to new car purchases, and you should not have to pay them. Car dealerships have to advertise as part of doing business, and many shoppers who challenge this fee will win. If your salesman will not remove this fee, ask to speak with a manager.
Read all the paperwork before signing. You should actually read everything before you sign anything. If you sign, you’re bound to the agreement. Feel free to request to take the contract home with you to look at it more closely before you sign it. If they won’t let you take it with you, ask them for a copy.
When you decide that it’s time to start car shopping, it’s a good idea to figure out how much you can pay for a car. It’s important to look at how much the car is going to cost you overall, not just the monthly payments. It’s easy to extend your term so that your monthly payment is affordable, but you may be seriously overpaying for the car this way.
Calculate the yearly mileage you will be driving. This will help you decide if you should lease a vehicle or purchase a vehicle outright. If you normally drive less than 1,000 miles a month, you should consider a lease. A leased car generally has lower payments than a car purchased outright.
The first time the salesperson goes to see their manager, they will come back with an inadequate offer. Counter with another offer, and the next offer they bring back will be the lowest. They wish for the deal to get closed soon, so they’ll give you an even lower price.
That’s it! It’s as easy as using the tips above during the car buying process. As long as you take all of this advice to heart, you should have no problem in the future as you navigate the car purchasing process. You’ll drive away in your new car and realize how simple it was.
