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Welcome to our Car Shopping Guide. We offer
suggestions for getting a good deal on a car, and making your
car buying experience a little easier.
Here's some initial tips to consider
before buying a new or used car
First, if you have an old car you're planning
to get rid of, you'll probably get more selling it yourself
than trading it in with the dealer. A dealer will give you
the low Kelley Blue Book value at most. The Blue Book is an
annual publication that lists wholesale and retail prices
for cars by year and model. Also, take a look at local classified
ads to get an idea of how much your old car is likely to bring
in if you sell it on your own. You can also get the value
of your vehicle by visiting Kelley Blue Book's website: http://www.kbb.com.
Second, if you have a poor credit history,
you'll need to put a substantial amount down (that is, finance
very little) or get a cosigner to get a good interest rate.
Third, resist the urge to buy more car than
you can afford - and don't talk yourself into a more expensive
car by financing it for four or five years. You'll pay a bundle
in interest that way. Know in advance what features you want
and how much you're willing to pay. Stick to your guns. Hassling
over the price of a new car can be quite unpleasant. If it's
not something you enjoy, consider turning to a manufacturer
or dealer whose price is nonnegotiable.
Be sure you know the following before you sign
any contract:
what the warranty covers and how long it lasts
how you might negate the warranty coverage (such as driving
off-road)
whether an extended warranty is available to you, and if so,
the following:
what it will cost
what it covers
how long it lasts
whether it duplicates coverage provided by the manufacturer's
warranty
how likely it is that you'll need it (whether the covered
parts have a history of problems)
the vehicle's estimated miles per gallon for city and highway
driving, and
the dealer's suggested maintenance schedule.
With used cars, reliability is more important
than price. Consider doing the following.
Have the car checked-out by a mechanic you trust.
Have the car inspected by a diagnostic center. These businesses
will check virtually every aspect and component of a car.
They're more expensive -- but more thorough -- than a mechanic.
Ask for copies of the maintenance records for the life of
the car.
Ask your state motor vehicle department to tell you who has
owned the car, the mileage each time it has been sold and
all states (other than where you live) where the car has been
registered.
Do your own visual inspection -- you'll want to look for oddities,
such as scratches or new paint.
Also, look at the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the
lower left-hand side of the front windshield. If it shows
any signs of tampering, the car may be stolen. And finally,
if you're buying the car from a private party (as opposed
to a car dealer), make sure the person selling the car actually
holds title. Ask to see the seller's driver's license (or
other form of ID) and the title certificate for the vehicle.
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