You’re probably already aware of this if you’re in the market for a new car, but a vehicle is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. You probably know someone (and hopefully it’s not you) that has bought a vehicle and then becomes very disappointed with it after a short period of time. This could occur for a number of reasons — whether it is because they bought used and got scammed; they felt they paid more than what it was worth; it didn’t meet expectations; or it was hyped up to be much more than it really was. Although these aren’t always the case, it is always better to be prepared for your car-buying trip than to go in knowing very little. If you are going to spend the money on a new or used vehicle, we want you to know that it is the perfect fit for you. Here’s how to do car buying the right way.
Know Your Credit
Before you start visiting dealers or looking for cars, you will want to look up your credit. Unless you have the extra cash, you will probably be paying for your new potential vehicle with a loan. Knowing your credit score can help you determine what loan amount you will be able to secure, along with the interest rate. This is important to know beforehand so you know what kind of budget range you should be looking at.
Be Patient
Do not buy a vehicle on your first visit to a dealership. Use this time to test drive the vehicles you are interested in and gather as much information as you can. By specifying right off the bat that you are not buying a car today, the salesperson should be a little more lax. On that note, if the salesperson asks for your planned budget, think before your answer. They will generally use this number for haggling in the future, so don’t give out too much information. Patience in buying can be the best tool in getting the greatest deal.
Do Your Research
The Internet is your friend. Use it to choose your needs in a vehicle and see what different options are available. If possible, get numerous quotes from other dealers, online or in person. Not only does this help you determine where you might want to go to purchase your car, but it also gives you an advantage by letting salespeople know that they are competing for your business, hence resulting in a possibly better deal.
Knowledge Is Power
With your research in hand and your dream car on the lot, it’s time to do a little negotiating. If you having a price ceiling that you know you don’t want to go over, don’t let the salesperson convince you otherwise. Make sure every fee is spelled out for you and you know prices of other new cars in that same area. Start low and try to move up in smaller amounts to ensure you get the best deal possible.
Congratulations!
After you have decided on a price, meticulously go over the paperwork and make sure everything is how you agreed it should be. Make sure to get everything your salesperson promised you in writing, in case you need it for future reference. Also remember that the more you put down up front, the less you will have to pay for the vehicle in the future. Congratulations! Hopefully you have successfully found a secured the perfect vehicle for you and your lifestyle.
Written by Marc Laferierre, owner of Dents Unlimited. Dents Unlimited offers the best auto repair Columbia MO has to offer, where their expert staff can get your car back on the road in no time.