Congratulations on your decision to buy a new car. Once you obtain your vehicle, you can drive on the open roads and feel the wind in your hair. There are a few things to consider before you buy the car. Read the following article for some car shopping tips that might help you when it’s time to buy.

Never leave your car with the dealership overnight. Many dealerships will offer you the opportunity to take the car that you are considering home in order to test drive it longer. While this is certainly appealing, it essentially means they are given the opportunity to hold the car you own hostage. This makes it more difficult to walk away from a bad deal, and it is not to your advantage.

When buying a used car, a great way to tell if the car has been in an accident is to look into the door frames. Usually when a car is repainted, you will notice over spray in this area. This is not proof that a car was in an accident, but it will let you know it was repainted.

Take care of financing before you get to the dealer. This can be done at either your credit union or bank. You will get a much better interest rate by doing this.

Do not buy a car without test driving it. You may have already driven the same model and make, but you should drive the exact car you plan to buy to ensure its quality. The car you choose could have something wrong with it that you would be unaware of until after you have purchased the vehicle unless you test drive it first.

Be aggressive and assertive. You will inevitably end up negotiating the price of your vehicle, so don’t be afraid to push a little. Be prepared to walk away from the dealership if you aren’t making progress. Leave the offer alone for a day or two, and then contact the salesman again. If they know that you are willing to walk away, they will be more likely to accept your offer or to counter-offer with a more reasonable price.

Refrain from bringing up incentives or down payments before negotiating. These will be removed from that bottom line price. It is to your advantage to lock in your deal prior to discussing any extras.

Make sure that when you are car shopping that you know what you’re looking for first. Call around to some of the dealerships and see if they have something you’d be interested in. You may also be able to find their website and check out the vehicles before spending time going up there.

Work on your credit score before you buy a car. A bad credit score means higher interest fees. That will result in a higher monthly car bill. And in some cases, that will result in higher premiums for car insurance. Get your credit in order so you aren’t locked into high fees for the life of your car loan.

When you go car shopping, take along someone who really does not care whether or not your purchase a car. An objective party will make it easier for you to avoid basing your purchase decision on emotions. Ask them ahead of time to keep their eyes and ears open for any flaws that they might notice as well.

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.

Know your purchasing price before you drive to the dealership. This number should be based on how much you are willing to spend as well as market research on the general value of the car model that you are looking at buying.

One important thing to keep in mind is the overall average value of cars in your country. By knowing the general value, you can see if the car lot where you are shopping is overcharging or not. If you feel all their prices are too high, simply move on to the next one.

If you are thinking about buying a car that is still under warranty. You need to make sure that whatever is left of the vehicle warranty is in writing. You don’t want to purchase a car only to find out that the warranty has been void, leaving you paying extra for nothing.

Make it clear to a car dealer that you have a certain budget, and you want to stick to that. This can stop them from offering you vehicles that are far more than you can afford. Be firm on that and do not bend. This will make it more likely for you to get a car that is well within your budget.

Take the time to inspect the vehicles you are interested in. Be sure to look for any dents or scratches on the outside of the car. Find any stains or tears on the carpet and the upholstery. Keep in mind that the minute you buy, this car is all yours. You will be responsible for all chips, rips, scratches and window cracks.

Understand that introductory terms are just that, introductory. Therefore, know what to expect afterwards, and assess your budget to make sure that it accommodates it nicely. If you don’t, you could find yourself getting duped by one of the oldest tricks in the book. Don’t let that happen to you!

Buying a car is a monumental time if anyone’s life. You must consider many things before you make a payment on a car, some of which could affect the life of your vehicle and the price you pay for it. Remember the tips that were featured in this article and head to your local dealership today!