#1 Be Finance Ready
Make sure your financing is in order prior to shopping for a car. You can go to a bank in order to secure the funds. You will get a much better interest rate by doing this.
#2 Know What You’re Looking For
Have at least a general idea of what type of car you’d like before you walk into a dealership. Research all of you options prior to shopping so you can figure out what works best for your budget and family needs. This also lets you know how much you should really be paying for a specific vehicle.
#3 Final Price
When negotiating, concentrate on the final price rather than the monthly payments. Though the dealer can negotiate a monthly price for you, keep in mind that these monthly payments add up, and in the end, the cost of your car could be through the roof. Instead, negotiate for the best overall deal on the price and financing of your vehicle. Then you can determine what the monthly payment will be.
#4 Bring Someone With You
When shopping for a car, bring someone along. Your person will be your second set of eyes and ears. You can take your significant other with you, your mom or dad, or a friend.
#5 Fuel Economy
As you shop for your car, think about fuel economy. For instance, you may want a large vehicle so you can tow your camper during the summer months. But you should consider how often you will be using the towing feature and how often you will need the extra horsepower a V-8 offers.
#6 Be Aware
If the car you own is fairly pricey, do not take that car with you when visiting a car dealership with the intent of making a purchase. Once salespeople see your expensive vehicle, they will not accept any of your offers and try raising prices because they will assume you can afford to spend more on a vehicle.
#7 Incentives
Refrain from bringing up incentives or down payments before negotiating. They should come out of the lowest price available. Also, you will typically end up with a better overall price if you negotiate the deal from the onset.
#8 Try Online Shopping
Purchasing a car is a lot of fun, but it can also wear you out. Do not forget that you can shop for a car online from home, saving you a lot of time and making it more pleasant. Many online sites offer side-by-side comparisons and other features to guide you through the selection process. This will help you narrow your choices, saving you time and money.