If you are considering purchasing a new car, you should do your homework first, so you are prepared. We are going to share some tips to help make your purchasing decision easy and without squabbling back and forth with the salesperson. According to NerdWallet, you should do the following things before stepping foot in a car lot.
How to Prepare Yourself for Buying a Car:
Buying a car can be a long, daunting task. You can make it easier on yourself if you are prepared to buy a car when you walk into the dealership. If you follow this process, you may be able to make the task a bit more pleasant. Just remember when dealing with aggressive salespeople. They are there to do a job and make the most commission they can off the purchase of your new vehicle.
Before you do anything, take a look at available inventory close to where you live and have a rough idea of the type of car you’d like to purchase and how much you are prepared to pay.
Get pre-approved for a new car loan
If you are planning on paying cash, you should put together a budget of what you can afford to spend. If you are financing the vehicle, talk to some financial advisors who can tell you what type of loan you can get and what the pre-approval cost is. Once you have this information, you know what you can spend. This will also help by having the salespeople up-sell you a vehicle you cannot afford.
Make a list of your most desired features
Before you begin searching for your vehicle, make a list of all the features you would like your new car to have. Some examples would be having a third row of seats, extra internet plugs, TVs for kids, and what type of gas mileage you should expect to get from your ideal vehicle.
Find out how the vehicle rates on safety
If you want to ensure your family will be safe in your new vehicle, you may want to check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for crash ratings. It is good to know before you decide if the car is for you.
Determine what you can pay for the vehicle
If you have met with your financial advisor, you already know how much you can afford to pay, so this will help you determine how much you can spend on a vehicle. You should never let the salesperson persuade you into getting a vehicle that is outside your budget.
Ask for email quotes
If you have found a couple of cars that you like, don’t sign on the dotted line right away. Ask the salesperson to send you digital quotes. You can then review sites like Kelly Blue Book and TrueCar to see if the price is fair market value or if the dealership is asking for more than the vehicle is worth. The last thing you want to do is to purchase a car and find out you are paying too much and are upside down in your car payment.
Choose the Right Vehicle
There are a lot of great cars on the market and if you take your time you will find the one that is right for your lifestyle and budget. Many enjoy some of the classic models made by VW. If you are one of these people, there are numerous VW dealers California, especially in the Pasadena area. These dealerships tend to be very upfront and honest when it comes to Volkswagen used cars for sale as well as new cars on the lot.
Don’t wait to purchase your next vehicle, just make sure you are prepared before you start the process.
