If you’re in the market for a new or pre-owned car, you may have noticed that the process can be a little overwhelming. But, it doesn’t have to be! If you do your homework before buying from your local dealership, you’ll see that buying a car is a lot easier than most people think it is.
Let me take you step-by-step on how to get started:
Car buying can be fun and easy!
Set a budget. Simply calculate how much money you can afford to spend on a monthly payment and don’t forget to include any money available for a down payment. You want to do this before you start looking at specific makes and models so you’ll know which ones are in your range.
Research the cars you want. This is fun, so enjoy it! Now that you know what your budget is, you can start searching for the car you need. It’s a good idea to make a checklist of what you’re looking for in a car; good gas mileage, room for multiple passengers, high safety ranking, etc. This will narrow down if you need a sedan, SUV, something more sporty, and so on.
Find the right price. You know your price range, and you know the car you want (you might actually have a few cars you want, and this is fine), and now it’s time to start getting quotes. You can do this through dealer websites, or pick up the phone and call a few local dealers. Some dealerships offer a money back guarantee that will match the price of another dealer, or refund you the difference if you find a specific car cheaper somewhere else.
Nothing beats the feel of those keys.
Insurance and warranty coverage. If you are looking at a few different models, make sure you have an idea what the insurance coverage and premiums will be between them. Also, make sure you have a good understanding of the manufacturer warranty and know what is covered and what is transferable if you decide to sell later on. If you want roadside assistance, see if it’s included with the warranty or if that will be an additional cost.
Test drive and buy. I saved the best for last! When it comes to test driving, try to drive the model closest to the one you actually want to buy. If you want the base model of a specific car, don’t try out the one with the luxury package added to it — you want to get a feel for the car you’re going to drive off of the lot. If you’re deciding between a few different cars, try them out and you should get a better feel for which is right for you.
That should cover the basics, and that wasn’t too hard, was it? Remember, if you have any questions, let me know by leaving a comment below.
