15 Things To Do Before You Buy A Car

Everyone finds them self in need of a new car or truck from time to time. And everyone experiences some amount of stress when it comes to making such a major purchase. Its only natural to worry a little before spending that much of your hard earned money. But, whether you are a first time buyer or an experienced negotiator, the more information you have at your disposal, the less stressful the car buying experience needs to be.

Most of the stress from situations like car buying comes from feeling uninformed or not in complete control. To help overcome this feeling, here is a list of 15 things every car buyer should do before heading to the dealer lot to buy a car. If you take the time to do the research and follow these fifteen tips you should be able to remove much of the stress of the process and, instead, enjoy the time you spend acquiring your new prized possession.

Things to do Before You Buy:

• 1. Find a Reputable Dealer — Word of mouth is the best source of finding a reputable car dealer, though a internet search can also be beneficial. Talk to people you trust and get referrals. Do a google search for auto dealer reviews. (I happen to know of one who sells Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Toyota in Bartlesville, Oklahoma… just saying.)




• 2. Make an Appointment — Appointments are always taken as serious matters by auto dealers. First, make sure you ask to speak with the manager to set the appointment. Then get the name of the salesperson you are to meet with and greet them by name when you arrive for the appointment. Remember they are not your adversary. They are there to assist you in the buying process. Treat them politely and respectfully and you can certainly expect the same in return.




• 3. Know What’s Important — Make sure you know what qualities in a car are important to you. Give this a lot of consideration and use this handy checklist to help clarify what you find most important. You can even take this list to the dealer with you. It may be the case that, even after all your research, a knowledgeable salesperson can suggest a car that fits your needs as well, or even better than, the one you had in mind.




• 4. Research the Car You Want — Decide on the make and specific model of the car you are interested in. Don’t just walk into a car dealership thinking, “I want a new car”. Take the time to research different makes and models. Read reviews and consumer ratings. You can find helpful reviews a number of places online. Once you are at the dealership be sure to test drive and make sure the car lives up to the reviews, and your expectations.




• 5. Know the Trim Level You Want — Most cars are available in a variety of trim levels. It is a good idea to know what trim level is best suited to your wants or needs. Maybe you just want a basic entry level commuter or maybe you like all the bells and whistles. Either way this has a significant effect on the price you pay, so you should make sure you are knowledgeable on the options.




• 6. Know the Optional Equipment You Want — Do you want the entry level car but really want satellite radio too? Do you want the deluxe model plus the rear seat entertainment system? Make sure you know what you want so you don’t just start adding options willy-nilly at the lot. It also helps in making sure you have a reasonable idea of what final costs are going to be before you get your heart set on a decked out luxury car you won’t be able to pay for.




• 7. Know the Invoice Price — Every car will have the MSRP listed on the Munroney sticker on the cars window. But what you really want to know is the invoice price of the car you want. This is the amount the dealer pays for the car. Invoice prices will vary somewhat between dealers, due to things like transportation costs, but you should be able to get a ballpark figure on the internet. How much above invoice price you will end paying is dependent on how popular the model and how good the market at any given time. But knowledge of the invoice price is always good to have when you start negotiating the final price you will pay for the car.




• 8. Research Available Factory and Dealer Incentives — Its also a good idea to have knowledge of any factory or dealer incentives that are presently being offered on the car you are interested in. Just type the make followed by “factory and dealer incentives” into a google search box. For Ford I typed “Ford factory and dealer incentives” and then, on the results page, found a link from Ford. In this search, the fourth link returned in my search results was Ford’s Incentives and Financing page.




• 9. Find the Value of Your Trade In — If you are planning to trade in a car, find the trade in value of the car you will be trading in. These values can be found at places like Edmunds used car appraiser or Kelley Blue Book. Be advised, though, that a number of factors will affect trade in value, especially the condition and maintenance history of the car. You will not always get the price you might think you should, and just because you don’t doesn’t mean you are being taken advantage of. Be open, ask the dealer to explain the price they offer you for your trade in, consider the relevant factors and determine for yourself if it is reasonable.




• 10. Decide on the Highest Price You Will Pay – Take all the information you have researched, as well as the realities of your financial situation, into consideration and decide on the highest price you are willing to pay for a car. Stick to this. Don’t get distracted by the pretty new luxury sedan on the showroom floor and end up going “just a couple of thousand over”. You know what you can afford and what you are willing to spend. Never go beyond your comfort zone. Be strong and be sensible!




• 11. Look Into Available Financing Options — Talk to your bank and any other lending institutions you might have a relationship with about auto loans and get some good ideas of what type of rates you might be looking at when financing through them. This will give you an idea of what you will be facing payment wise. You can then talk to the dealer and see what they have available. By getting all possible options you can find the best possible financing plan and save money in interest rates.




• 12. Find Your Credit Score — This used to be difficult to come by, but with the internet readily available, getting your credit score is simple and can be done without cost once per year. Knowing your credit score will give you a better idea of what type of financing the dealer will be able to offer you. It will also give you the peace of mind in knowing the dealer is using your correct credit score instead of just having to trust them. Freecreditreport.com is one of many free credit report resources available.




• 13. Research Extended Warranty Options — Take the time to look into extended warranty options as well. Many dealers offer both manufacturer’s extended warranties and after market warranties. The type of warranty you may want will depend on the amount of mileage you normally put on a car, the extent of coverage you desire, and deductibles. Have a sense of what fits your needs best and be ready to discuss your needs with the salesperson.




• 14. Know the Cost to Insure — Many people research what they are going to end up paying for a car very thoroughly but never consider what they are going to end up paying insurance-wise. Make sure you talk with your insurance agent so you can get an idea of what your insurance payments will look like for the car you want. Then make sure that you figure this into what you will end up spending monthly once you purchase the car.




• 15. Smile — Buying a car should be an enjoyable experience. Don’t get yourself all tensed up and ruin the fun. Be loose. Have fun. Be open and honest with the dealer and expect the same from them. You’ll find that if you are prepared, well researched and fully informed the car buying experience does not need to be a stressful one.

I hope you find this list beneficial. If you have any questions about this list or any other issues feel free to leave a comment or use the Ask Brad form and submit the question to me privately. I am also more than happy to offer a quote for anyone considering a new or used car or truck.

Until tomorrow, Have a great day!

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

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