Check out the manufacturer Web sites. You can find any manufacturer through a simple search on Google or other search engines. Peruse all of their new offerings, and choose a few that appeal to you. Consider safety and reliability in addition to looks and style. Have an idea of what you can afford and consider buying vs. leasing options.
Once you have an idea of what you want, find out what the car experts say about the vehicle. A good resource is Consumer Guide. Here you will find unbiased reviews and information about all new makes and models.
There are several big players that have been online for quite some time and are a good starting point for your search. You can get a free price quote on a new car in your area. There’s carsdirect.com, one of the originators of online car buying. You can check out models, features and prices. You’ll find a lot of valuable information there, including other similar cars you might want to consider. There’s also autotrader.com, truecar.com, and carmax.com, among others.
Your dealer will offer you loan options, but it makes sense to look into it yourself. You could save a lot of money. Check out our easy financing to get quick, low rates for your new car.
You should check your credit rating to see where you stand before you start negotiating. This will greatly affect your financing options. Also, it can help you avoid an embarrassing situation. You can get a free report that will give you a good idea of your financial standing. One of the best companies is Equifax.They are experts in the field. You can also get a 3-in-1 Credit Report, a report from the three major institutions. Learn more about credit and what it means here.
Five Things to Keep in Mind
A. Resign yourself to the fact that it’s rarely going to be completely smooth. That is because no matter how well you arm yourself with information, the dealer still has things up his (or her) sleeve that make it a little more complicated than you would prefer it to be. But that’s just how it goes. So just be as informed as you can be to minimize all of the shenanigans.
B. You are never going to know exactly what the dealer paid for the car, because in addition to the rebates and special offers that you may see advertised, there are dealer incentives that you never know about. But you can shop around and get rates from a few dealers to get a general idea of what you should be paying. Anything below that and you can rest assured you got a good deal.
C. Don’t spend extra money on unnecessary items. There is no need to fork over an extra $500 for an alarm system that costs the dealer $50. Most cars today come with a perfectly respectable alarm or security system. Don’t pay an extra couple of hundred bucks for a “heavy-duty” battery, unless you’re planning to tour the North Pole. If you’re buying a high-end sports car and you want to get tire insurance, fine, as those tires can be up to 800 bucks a piece. But for the most part, you don’t need all of those upsell items they try to push on you before you sign on the dotted line.
D. Even though you may have a list of what options you really want, your list may not match the majority of cars that come off the assembly line. You see, the manufacturer thinks they know exactly what you want, and that’s the way they build most of their cars…so if you want something a little different, you may have to wait for it. Your dealer can either order a car to your specs (which means you will wait a long time for it) or he can try to swap with another dealer who may have that particular car(with the option, color, etc.), that you want.
E. Don’t have any qualms about being forceful with the dealer. Believe us, they need you, a lot more than you need them. Hold your ground, stick to your price, don’t be afraid to negotiate. The ball is in your court when it comes to buying a new car.
That’s about it for the things you need to know when buying a new car. Of course there is more to it, but this tutorial will lay some solid groundwork for you. Be as prepared as you can be before you walk in that door…you won’t regret it.