All About Car Shopping - The Tricks, The Tips And What Works
Buying a car is a process that you should invest a lot of time and patience into. Many people do not know this and they rush through the entire process. While this may get a vehicle into your possession much faster, chances are there will be a lot more headaches than smiles if you do this.
Be flexible. While you should head to the car dealership with a good idea of what you are looking for, it can pay to have a little wiggle room. Try to have several makes or models that fit your needs, and you can choose the best deal when you find out what is available at your particular dealer
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.
If the price of a car is non-negotiable, see cost to lift a truck if you can negotiate on other terms. Some dealerships will agree to provide several months' worth of free gasoline or a year of free oil changes, for instance. It never hurts to ask if a salesman can sweeten the deal.
If you are trading your car in, take it to a detail shop and have the upholstery and carpets cleaned along with a wash and wax. Doing this one thing can usually net you several hundred dollars or more in trade-in value compared to a car that isn't clean.
If you are shopping for a new car, you might want to leave your kids at home. They might have a good time going on a test drive or two, but they will usually end up being bored. This will make it difficult to focus on the task at hand and could possibly end up costing you money.
If you are car shopping and want to test drive some different cars, make sure you bring your license and insurance card with you. Many dealers will want a photo copy of them before you drive. This is just to protect them in case someone steals or damages a car. If you do not have them with you, they might not let you test drive.
Never settle for the price that's set for the car when you're shopping for one. You must be a great negotiator and try to knock a little off the price. Every car dealership knows that they're going to have to negotiate anyway, so they make the car seem like it costs more than they'd settle for.
Although some sites suggested not test driving a vehicle because of the emotional attachment that can happen, it is never a good idea to purchase something without trying it out. Take at least a fifteen minute long test drive to really get a feel for how the car handles and how comfortable the car truly is.
Look no further than the Internet when you are looking for a used vehicle. You don't have to go to a car lot in person anymore. Check Craigslist, eBay and classified sites. You won't feel pressure from a salesperson and can also save money.
Take fuel economy into account when calculating the cost of a vehicle. When you are determining your monthly car payments, figure out how much you'll end up paying for gas each month based on the fuel economy of the car. A more expensive fuel-efficient car and a less-expensive gas guzzler may end up costing you the same amount out of pocket each month after you've figured in the amount you'll spend on gas.
Even if a car is in your price range, do not forget to consider the gas mileage and annual maintenance fees that will come with your purchase. Many people buy vehicles that they think are affordable, but later they regret it when they see how much they have to pay annually for gas and routine maintenance.
Be sure you understand all the available incentives before you begin negotiations. Do some research on trade-ins, rebates, warranties, incentives and bank fees. You can only negotiate well if you understand what is realistic.
Speak with an insurance salesperson in order to secure price quotes prior to buying a car. Even if this car is affordable now to you, you have to think in the long term as to what the insurance will cost. Find yourself a vehicle that strikes the right balance between car price and insurance rates you can live with.
Check your credit score before you head to the dealership to make a car purchase. Even if you are doing well financially at this time, you may not be able to afford the high finance charges that are associated with less than stellar credit. It would be difficult to go to a dealer, fall in love with a car and then fond out you cannot afford the finance charges.
As stated earlier, buying a car is not something that should be taken so lightly. This is a serious investment and there needs to be a lot of thought and care put into the process. The article here should have given you a good idea of what the best steps are to take before making a car purchase.