Have you ever wanted to turn the tables on the dealership when you’re trying to buy a vehicle. Perhaps you’re so stressed because you don’t have the right knowledge to flip things on them and give yourself the best deal. Maybe you don’t understand what they’re doing. Keep reading to find out what to do.
Establish a budget before you go car shopping so you have a great idea of what is in your price range. Try your best to stay within your budget. If you must go over, the amount that you go over should not be so significant that it puts you in a financial bind.
If you are in the market for a used car, a great way to tell if the speedometer is correct is to look at the gas and brake pedals. If someone says the car has 30,000 miles on it, and the brake and gas pedals are worn, it is a good indication the odometer was turned back.
Make sure you’re able to be inside the dealership for hours when you’re car shopping. You don’t want to feel like you’re rushed and commit to a deal you’re not comfortable with. If you can, use the entire afternoon. If you don’t have a lot of time, think about leaving and coming back later.
Do not be turned off from a car because it is used. Most people would like nothing more than to buy a brand new, shiny car. But, is this really feasible for your financial situation? Many used cars are perfectly fine and will not break your back nearly as much as a new car will.
Don’t discuss trade-ins, incentives or down payments before negotiating a base price. All of this should come out of your agreed bottom line. This ensures you get a real deal.
Rent cars to test them out. This will give you a chance to spend some time driving the vehicle. Go on a long road trip to see how the car stands up to the abuse. This is an ideal way to determine if you’re comfortable with a vehicle before buying one.
Never take a car at face value. Though you may not be a mechanic, it is a good idea to do a thorough inspection of the vehicle. An important part of the inspection is a test drive. This allows you to feel the car on the road, listen for any wayward noises and possible spot issues with performance.
Demand a safety report and vehicle history report from the dealer. Any good car dealer will have these items available for any vehicle on the lot. This is information that will tell you how safe the vehicle is as well as any major accidents or work that has been needed on the car.
If you are trying to determine your trade-in value for your current vehicle, be sure to take it to a few dealers. By going to a few different dealers, you’ll be able to get a rough estimate of how much your car is actually worth. This will allow you to turn down low ball offers that someone may make for your car.
You should test drive the car you want with every feature you desire. For example, test driving a manual model when you want automatic won’t show you anything. If they don’t have the exact model on the lot, go to a lot which does for the test drive as you can always go back for the purchase, if you want to.
Do not forget to calculate the cost of owning a car when you are working out a budget. For example, a vehicle that costs more but gets better mileage may be cheaper over the long run than a less-expensive car with poor fuel economy. You should also include resale value and insurance premiums in your calculations.
Read everything before you sign it! Prior to putting your signature on a contract, carefully inspect the whole thing from beginning to end. Once your signature is on the document, it becomes a legal obligation. Feel free to request to take the contract home with you to look at it more closely before you sign it. If your salesman does not want to let you take the contract home, there is more than likely some hidden clause they do not want you to find out about.
Once you find an interesting car, it’s time to pull out the fine tooth comb. Inspect the exterior of the car for scratches and dents. Make sure to scrutinize the interior, looking for damages and stains. You are stuck with this car once you buy it. As a result, the scratches, dents, rips, stains, etc. will be your responsibility.
As a female, shopping for cars can be hard. If you feel the salesperson, you’re dealing with is being condescending or rude, leave immediately. If they touch you, use misogynistic language or do anything to offend you, thank them for their time and take off. Tell them it’s that time of the month, and they shouldn’t run after you.
When choosing a dealership, it’s always good to research the service department. Do some research to find out how current customers feel about the service. Also, you can test this department to see if they are on their game. Select a dealer that has a competent staff so that you have a good source to turn to when the need arises.
If you are planning on using your current car as a trade in, don’t let the dealer know right away. Your first goal is to negotiate down the price of the car you wish to purchase. Information like trade-in value is valuable to the salesman, so keep it to yourself until the right moment!
You should now have a better grasp on what the dealership is trying to hand you when you’re purchasing a vehicle. Knowing their strategies and techniques will help you explore your options better. You don’t want to just take something when you don’t know enough about it. Instead, get what you deserve!