Tips for Buying Your Next Car at a Dealership

Are you thinking about upgrading to your first brand new vehicle? It can be exciting to purchase your dream automobile, but if you've never worked with a dealership before it can be a little intimidating to know where to begin. However, there are plenty of tips and tricks to make the buying process easier for both you and the dealership, so you can drive away in your new vehicle in no time. Before you head out to your local dealership, here are some tips to help you through the automobile buying process.

Research Your Vehicle

The first step in any vehicle buying process is to know what type of vehicle you want to purchase. What you purchase can depend on several factors, such as personal preference, size needs, and daily travel distance to name a few. If you're raising a family, for example, you likely would want a larger vehicle with great safety features instead of a compact car. Or, if you have a long daily commute, you're likely going to look for a vehicle that gets good gas mileage, which can save you thousands of dollars over the years of ownership. Many dealers have automobile dealership software that can help make finding the right vehicle for your needs fast and easy if you don't have your choice narrowed down before you walk in the door. However, taking the time to research your needs can expedite the buying process.

Value Your Trade-In

Once you know what type of vehicle you'd like to purchase, you'll have a good idea of the overall price you'll pay for it. You can save thousands of dollars on your new vehicle by putting a trade-in towards the purchase value. Don't stress out if you don't have a vehicle to trade in, but know that if you do you may see additional savings off your total vehicle purchase price. If you have a vehicle to trade in, you should do some research to determine its current trade-in value. This can help you have a good idea of what to expect as an offer from the dealership. There are plenty of sites available online that can help you determine the resale value of your vehicle so there are no surprises when you get your offer from the dealership.

Get a Loan

Your next step in the automobile buying process should be to secure a loan for your vehicle. Unless you plan to pay cash for your new vehicle, it's crucial to secure a loan or you will not be able to purchase. You can visit your local bank or credit union to secure a loan for your vehicle or talk to the dealer about dealership financing. Your interest rate may vary between your financial institution and the dealership, so it's not a bad idea to talk to both to see who can get you the best interest rate for your automobile loan. Make sure you have a proof of salary and other debt information available for the lender to make the process go quickly and efficiently. Once you're pre-approved for your vehicle purchase, you'll be ready to test drive and negotiate a deal on your new vehicle.

Test Drive

Once you've gone through the research and pre-approval process, it's time to test drive a few options before you make your final selection. Each vehicle drives differently, so it's best to drive a few different ones within your top picks and price range to find the one that best suits you. Be mindful of the dealership's time and schedule your test drive. This guarantees a spot for you so you don't have to worry about waiting around while the dealership handles other customers with appointments. When you drive, take it out on the highway as well as doing city driving to see how it handles under different conditions. Some dealerships will even let you take the vehicle home for a day or two to really see if it's right for you.

Once you find the right vehicle, secured financing, and negotiated a price for your trade-in, you're ready to agree on a final price, sign the paperwork, and drive away in your brand new vehicle.