When the time comes to purchase a new car, whether new or used, you have to be sure that you are properly educated on the subject. If you’re not, there is a chance that you could end up with a less-than-ideal car. Allow the following tips to be your guide when car shopping.

Paying sticker price is like flushing money down the toilet. A person should never end up paying the sticker price. They purposely inflate the value to dicker with you, and you need to remember this fact.

Prior to stepping foot in a dealership, obtain a car loan. The length of time it takes to buy a car often hinges on whether they have to find financing for you or not. If you have your loan pre-arranged, the whole process will be easier.

Shopping for a new car can seem complicated when it comes to pricing. Take your iPad or phone with you to the dealer. You can search the Internet and find car payment calculators that will let you know what your payment is going to be without having to rely on the dealer.

Watch out for the car salesman who offers you a price on a car before he visits his sales manager. The salesman will tell you anything you want to hear, but only the manager can approve the deal. Ask to speak to the manager face to face and see the deal on paper before committing to purchase the car.

Never turn over your trade-in keys to the salesperson before the deal is finalized. Some pushy salespeople will hang onto them in an effort to pressure you into hearing them out, even after you have turned down a deal. Keep the keys in your possession and only hand them over when the deal is done.

Try renting a car in order to test it out. You will be able to drive it much more than a test drive. To make sure this is the best car for your family’s needs, go on a road trip and really test it out. This will allow you to get a glimpse of what life would be like with the car.

Is there a specific feature you really want? Is it, heated seats or a sunroof? Before you even approach the lot, find out which cars in your price range actually offer this feature. This will reduce the time spent on the lot looking at cars you don’t want as the feature isn’t available.

If buying used, ask the dealer to let you take the car to a mechanic. This mechanic needs to be one you can trust. Never use one recommended by the car dealer. The mechanic should be able to tell you whether the car is road worthy and if it is a good deal for the money you will pay.

Take your time when shopping for a car. It can be very tempting to purchase the first car you see because it looks nice or it has nice seating. However, there may be a car out there that is even better for you. Shop around and make comparisons before making a purchase.

Speak to loved ones about who they bought their car from. Their advice should help steer you in the right direction. You can trust what they say as they are likely to be looking out for your best interests, which makes their advice far more reliable than that which you find on the internet.

Consider skipping the dealership entirely. An auto broker will work with multiple dealerships to find you the best deal on the car you want. You can usually find these online, and the dealerships will pay the fees for their use. This is a good way to comparison shop without having to visit multiple dealerships.

Check into all the different incentives before you negotiate a price. You will need to learn about rebates, trade-in values, bank fees, warranties and any other incentive programs. This will help you get a better deal, because you will understand the landscape in advance.

Be wary of financing if you plan to get another car soon. If you want to get a car without putting any money down, and plan to get a new car in a year or two, you’re setting yourself up to carry balances from car to car. You’ll end up paying more than the car is worth.

You can buy a car online, skipping the dealership and allowing you to avoid high-pressure sales tactics. This is even possible for new cars on some lots, so do your research and find the car you want. Obviously, you won’t get to take a test drive if you never go to the lot, though.

When shopping for a new car, keep in mind what are your needs. Seeing many new cars can be distracting for a shopping, and you don’t want to walk away with something that isn’t practical. Even though the new sports car may look and drive nicely, it wouldn’t be practical to be used as a family car.

If you’re trying to secure a car loan, don’t automatically accept the rate that a person is telling you. Shop around, and see if others have something different to say. Some dealerships will try to give you a different rate just to see if you bear down and take their deal.

Never rush into anything when it comes to purchasing a car. The dealers make you feel like you have to buy right now. Don’t fall for this tactic. About 90% of times, the special will always be there later when you think you want to buy.

Stay flexible about the car you will end up with. Big names have the models you want. When you want a compact car, you’ll find that the Civic, Corolla and Focus are all very similar. Compare dealers so that you can get extras you need at a price that fits your budget.

As mentioned at the start of this article, you should really be well-educated on shopping for a car. This is so you can avoid getting a car that does not make you happy. If you properly use the advice this article has provided you with, you will be pleased with the car you get.