At some point in your life you will probably need to purchase a new or used vehicle, a process you may have come to dread. It can be hard to grasp all the possibilities when it comes to options, how to get the price you want and how to win the negotiation game. Your shopping experience can be improved with the tips from leading professionals in this article.
Don’t let a salesperson talk you into buying a vehicle you can’t afford. A lot of people are swayed into buying a sports car by a salesperson. Always be mindful that the salesman’s intention is to make a good sale, so selling pricier cars helps their personal commissions.
Secure your financing online prior to setting foot in a dealership. This will remove the financing hassle from the process. By having a loan in hand in advance, the whole process is sure to move fast.
When negotiating, focus on the price of the car overall, not just the monthly payment. Monthly payments are flexible, but the total price is more rigid. Pay attention to the total price. Negotiate the best price total you can for the car. Then calculate what your monthly payments will be.
Research the car you have chosen online before making the trip to the dealership. Don’t bother with a dealership unless you know exactly what you want. You should do a little Internet research first to see what brand might work for you, which cars are the safest and other things that a dealership won’t tell you.
The test drive is one of the most important steps in the process of car shopping. Even if you’ve test driven something similar, make sure to test drive the car you’re looking at now. There could be a problem with it that you don’t know about unless you drive it.
Prior to setting food on a car lot, figure out your financing. Start with your local bank for options. Doing so will cause you to get a much better rate of interest.
Do not think that purchasing from a dealer is your only option. It may surprise you to learn that your ideal car can be purchased from a private seller or even a small car lot. Use social networking sites and classifieds to help you find the car you want at a good price.
Take time to research your dealer before making an offer on a vehicle. You will have a negotiating advantage if you understand their trade and financing practices. You can avoid being taken advantage of by reading over reviews from other customers.
Consider renting a car just to test drive them. Rent the car for a weekend to really see how the car drives. Take your family on a road trip, and you’ll see if the car is a fit for you. You’ll know the car inside and out before you buy it this way.
When buying a vehicle from a private seller, make sure a mechanic does an inspection first. If the current owner declines to let you do this, take that warning sign to heart. The car may have costly issues that make it worth far less than the asking price. You shouldn’t put yourself in a situation where a surprise may arise.
Plan on going car shopping during the last week of the month. Everyone has a quota to meet each month. At month’s end, the salesperson may still need to meet his quota, and he will be more conducive in giving you a better deal just to make a sale.
Have someone else come along when you go shopping for a car. This individual can be another pair of eyes and ears, and they just might save you from a bad deal by nudging you to walk away when you should. They could be a parent, a friend, or a spouse.
Finding and buying a new car is something that can be a lot of fun, but it can also tire you out. Did you know that you can save much time and money by doing comparison shopping from the comfort of your own home by logging into your computer? You should use the Internet to compare makes and models, look up blue book values and read reviews of different dealerships in your area. You can use these resources to whittle through options to find your perfect choice, which just makes things easier and faster.
Don’t buy without test driving. You have to do it even if you drove that kind of car before, you might not like this particular one. There could always be something which makes you hate driving the car.
See an auto show. This show can assist you in determining which makes and models are right for you. This gives you a glimpse into the world of cars and what is available to you. It will also allow you to speak to lots of people who know a great deal about cars. You’ll know which models peak your interest, afterwards.
Speak with your bank regarding loans before you head out to purchase a new car. This can provide you with important peace of mind. Usually the dealership’s finance department can find a better rate for you than a bank, but it can help if you find what interest rate you’re looking at prior to shopping.
While you may know exactly what you want, you may not be able to get it. Sometimes, the exact feature that you want is not in the car that you desire. Not getting a heated seat shouldn’t break the deal you’re trying to get, if you don’t need it.
Remember that the vast majority of salespeople must meet quotas either weekly or monthly. This system works to your advantage at the end of the month. The sales staff will want to sell you a car to meet their goals. This allows you a little bit more wiggle room in your price negotiations.
When shopping for a car, you should take along a friend that has no interest in you purchasing a car. This person can assist you in making any emotional decisions. Take them with you when you do your test drive, and have them give you their opinions on any negatives.
You should consider renting the type of car you want to buy to try it out. Renting a car from a local rental agency is a great way to get a personal feel for a specific car over a test drive of a day or more. Go on a long road trip to see how the car stands up to the abuse. This is an easy way to get lots of first hand experience with a vehicle before making the purchase commitment.
Do not mention your trade-in right away. Do not disclose to others of your trade-in vehicle until an actual price has been negotiated for the car you are buying. If you wait until after the price negotiations, you will actually get the value of your trade-in.
Try to plan your car shopping trip for the end of the month. Typically, you can get the best deals around this time. At month’s end, sales staff who need to fulfill a quota may be more likely to give you a better price in order to sell a vehicle.
Search the Internet to find great used car deals. The convenience of the Internet has all but eliminated the need to set foot on a car lot. Try looking at online classifieds or auction sites, if possible. That way, you can make a fair deal without pressure.
If you are looking for a car, you should take your buddy along to help you out. Your friend will be your voice of reason, helping you avoid costly mistakes. You need to take a friend with you when shopping so they can help.
Read everything before signing. You could be getting in some serious trouble if you’re out there blindly signing money away. Your signature legally binds you, so you want to make sure you are 100% sure about what the contract says. If you are uncomfortable reading the contract at the dealership, ask to take it home to look it over in your own time. If you can’t, ask for a copy you can look over.
Read all the paperwork before signing. You could be getting in some serious trouble if you’re out there blindly signing money away. If you sign, you are locked in. You can request to take home the contract to read on your own if you want more time. If they don’t allow this, get a purchase agreement or copy of the contract to look over at your leisure.
Always do your research when buying a used car. There are sources on the Internet that will tell you what a car is worth. The NADA or the Kelly Blue Book can help you determine the value. If this dealership is selling you a car for much more than these two sources state, go to another dealership.
Make sure you do research before you buy a new car. The Internet provides many sources that can inform you of your car’s value. In order to find out the value of a car, use NADA or the Kelly Blue Book. If the dealer is selling a car for more than what these two sources price the car at, then go elsewhere.
Don’t sign the warranty that reads “as-is” when purchasing. These type of warranties are always a bad idea. There should at least be a warranty for 30-90 days when purchasing a used car. If the vehicle needs a major repair a day or two after you buy it, you will have to pay for the repair.
Sales staff want to make a big commission. This should be obvious, though good salespeople can mask this motivation. Try not to get pulled into the extra fees that they can charge. A car that appears like a bargain sale may increase by hundreds or thousands of dollars.
It’s the job of a salesperson to make the most money possible. Although this should be obvious, it can be easy to forget this fact if the salesperson is very friendly. Watch out for the add-ons and extras that might get attached to the purchase price. Even a car that was a good deal can become expensive.
Do not purchase a car that has just came onto the market. The cost will be higher than if you wait. In a few months the hype will have died down, and you can find one at a much better price.
If you ever feel like a car salesman is bullying you into making a decision, walk away. Even if they try to get you to stay, leave. Tell him you have another appointment. Get the heck out of there! There are other dealers who would love to help you.
You can get a car you are happy with cheap. However, if you arrive at the dealer prepared with the above guidance, you stand a good chance of doing quite well for yourself. Use these ideas on your next car shopping adventure. You may surprise yourself by the deal you can strike at the dealership.
It can be a good thing to buy a car near the last week of the month. All dealerships have to meet monthly quotas. If you buy at the end of the month, you are helping them to get in those last deals to make that quota. This can work toward your benefit and end up pushing the price your way.
About The Author
