Buying a car can be stressful, especially if it is your first car. There are a lot of different factors to consider when buying your first car. If you are like most other people, then you are looking for a way to make sure that you get a good deal. There are several key things that you can do to make the experience better and relieve some of your stress. If you are looking to buy your first car, here is a guide to buying your first car.
Research First
Before you buy a car, you need to do your research first. The best way to make sure that you get a good deal is to know what is available. Model designs and prices vary widely between manufacturers. So, the best thing that you could do is to look at the basic models that each company has to offer. Look at the pricing and financing options available. Before you determine how much you should pay, you need to know how you can pay it and how dealers can help with that.
The most important thing that you can look for in your research is the comparable features and prices of past year models. Knowing that information will allow you to judge if you want to buy new or used. You can save significantly by buying a used car with similar features.
Decide What You Want/Need
The next step is to figure out what you want and need your car to do. Before you spend any money on a car, you need to be sure that it can meet your needs. Once you have determined what your car needs to do, look for additional features that you want. This includes colors, interior features, performance abilities, and external designs. A big part of getting a good deal is getting a car that you enjoy driving every day.
Start Shopping Around
When you’ve done all of the research, it’s time to start shopping around. Look at multiple dealers before deciding on a final choice. You’ll want to see what is available before making a decision and you are likely to find a more competitive price if you try multiple locations. Don’t forget to look at the used cars that are available as well. You’d be surprised at the value that you can find in used cars.
Negotiate
There are few purchases that you can still negotiate. Car sales are one of them. You may be able to negotiate down the price of the car that you want by a few hundred or thousands of dollars. This is where the research at the beginning becomes important since you’ll have a better idea of what the car is worth.
Car buying can be stressful, but following this process will help you come out with a good deal. Just keep your expectations in check. If you’re buying a used car for $6,000, you likely won’t be able to negotiate it down by a few thousand dollars. However, you may be able to get rid of the dealer fee, which will save you a few hundred dollars.
This photo, “100_0248,” by Daniel Oines used under CC BY 2.0. “100_0248” is licensed under CC BY 2.0 by Gay Family Kia.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.