When purchasing a new car, most buyers have questions. By getting answers to those queries, buyers can make informed decisions that meet their individual needs.
Step one in purchasing a vehicle should be setting a budget. Once this step has been taken, research the type of car or other conveyance you intend on buying thoroughly – be wary of services offering to do this work for you; oftentimes they serve as sales lead generators.
Budget
Most experts advise car shoppers not to spend more than 20% of their take-home pay on vehicles, including payments, insurance premiums and fuel. Before visiting an auto mall, shoppers should calculate a budget which includes any down payments, trade-in equity or trade-in equity and sales tax or license/registration fees. Keep in mind that most car buying services still involve dealing with dealers who may employ double talk and misinformation when selling financing options.
Research
Researching before purchasing from either a dealership or buying service is of the utmost importance, due to confusing and deceptive sales practices in the auto industry – especially regarding financing arrangements. Many people don’t realize that credit unions often provide the cheapest vehicle loans available. You should also use pricing guides, like Kelley Blue Book or NADA Used Car Guide in your region for finding out what cars are worth; you can find these guides at libraries, bookstores or even on the Internet.
Negotiation
Negotiation is a crucial element of car buying, whether you purchase from a dealership or private seller. Negotiation puts you in an informed, more confident position to secure the best price on your new ride – and preparation begins even before meeting someone in person! Take some time researching all models in your price range that interest you; this includes their history report, accident history and repair information.
Research the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). This will serve as an ideal starting point in negotiations, giving an indication of what your maximum budget should be for that specific model. Consumer Reports’ vehicle model pages also feature average transaction prices which better represent market conditions than dealer costs or invoice prices.
