Everyone has to buy a car sooner or later. The process is exciting, but the thought of spending so much money can feel intimidating. Continue reading to learn some excellent advice on how to ease this process.

Make sure that you have your loan in place beforehand. Checking your credit and finding a lender is what takes the bulk of your time on a car lot. If you have a loan when walking in, it will make the process quicker.

Before going to a dealership, you should know what you want. You should do some research online to learn more about different kinds of vehicles before you make your decision. You should also note the price range of the vehicle you choose so that you’re not tricked by salespeople.

When negotiating, concentrate on the final price rather than the monthly payments. Dealers will do anything and everything to get you that monthly price, even if it means saddling you with higher expenses and interest over the years. By concentrating on the total vehicle price and financing rates, you are doing yourself a favor. Then you can figure out monthly payments.

If you’re shopping for a used car, try to have it inspected by a mechanic not from the dealership. If your dealer does not allow you to have a mechanic inspect it, then walk away from the deal. Good mechanics will be able to see major problems like previous wrecks or water damage.

Car shopping will take many hours. Do not allow feeling rushed to force you into a deal you aren’t comfortable with. You should set aside the entire afternoon for that. If you don’t have time, don’t fear leaving and returning another time.

Set a budget for your new car before you head to the dealership. You should never purchase a vehicle if you cannot really afford it. In the end, this is your money paying for the vehicle.

Don’t go car shopping by yourself unless you are certain you have excellent sales resistance. A friend can be brought along to help you figure out the worth of the car and ask questions that are important. Tell them exactly what you’re looking to buy and how much you have to spend before you go.

Don’t discuss trade-ins, incentives or down payments before negotiating a base price. This will be taken care of after the fact. Also, you will typically end up with a better overall price if you negotiate the deal from the onset.

You don’t have to buy from a dealer. Often, you can find just the right vehicle through private sales or smaller lots. Check classified ads online and go through newspapers to find out more about the vehicles available in your area.

Test Drive

Taking a test drive is imperative. No matter how perfect the car looks, you must test drive it. Nothing can substitute your actual experience with the car. You might not like it as much as you thought you would.

Rent a car in order to test it out. To really get to know a car, you can rent one locally and put it through its paces. Bring the whole family along for a test drive. This will allow you to be comfortable with it before spending the money on it.

It’s tiring to buy a new car. Did you know that you can save much time and money by doing comparison shopping from the comfort of your own home by logging into your computer? Many sites exist to help aggregate car prices, options and reviews. Using this technique will save you both money and time.

Check out an auto show to help figure out what makes and models would be good for you. Auto shows are the best place to directly make vehicle comparisons. You can also find out much information from many knowledgeable sources there. You should be able to walk out of an auto show with a good idea of the cars you’d like to look into further.

Bring a friend along during the car-buying process — preferably someone who has nothing to gain or lose from your purchase. An objective party will make it easier for you to avoid basing your purchase decision on emotions. Ask them to come with you throughout the test drive to point out problems.

You need to know what you can spend before doing it. Base this number on your budget and the research you have done about what a car should be worth.

If you have a certain model in mind, call to see if there is one on the dealer’s lot. If you visit a dealer without knowing in advance what you are looking for, a salesperson will try to sell you ANYTHING. But, if your heart is set on a particular car that they do not currently have on-site, you do not need to waste your time. Call first and ask.

If you feel overwhelmed, leave the lot. Don’t let cheap sales tactics keep you there any longer. Lie if you must. The important thing is to leave as quickly as possible. You have so many more options open to you. You do not have to deal with unsavory salespeople.

If your salesperson leaves to give your offer to his or her manager, you should realize that they will not bring back the lowest possible price just yet. Make another offer, and the next offer on their part is generally going to be a better one. They don’t want a long, drawn-out negotiation any more than you do, so a couple of offers should get you a good rate.

Purchasing a vehicle is a positive thing, but it can actually bring about many negative factors as well. Although, as you have now learned, by doing your homework ahead of time, you can greatly reduce the stress and anxiety that typically surrounds car-buying. Use these tips to find the right car and negotiate the price you want without letting the car shopping process cause you too much stress.