Budget, saving, shopping, Uncategorized

7 Car buying Tips You Must Know Before Your Purchase

 

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The car buying experience can be a bit much. I have made 2 car purchases in two different stages in my life. I got my first car from a buy here, pay here type of place. It was black 4 door Honda Civic. Her name was Black Beauty.I fell in love with it when I saw it and it was affordable for me. Here is the kicker! Y’all I had some device on my car that would stop my car from cranking if I failed to pay my car note. I don’t think we knew about the tracking device until after we got to the dealer. Every month I had I had to put in a code after I made my car payment. When the car was paid off they removed the device. had that car for a couple of years and I am proud to say that they never had to cut my ish off. I was young and needed something and for whatever reason this seemed to be the best option.

So the plan was to keep that Honda until the wheels fell off. I was okay with that because I wanted to live without a car note and be able to tackle my student loans. That did not work at all. I got into a car accident within two months of paying the car off and then a couple of months after that my car died. It was a sudden death. Every time I went to get my car serviced I was always told that everything was fine and that my car was in good shape.

Well one August day I had to make the decision of paying thousands of dollars I did not have to fix my car or just get a new one and have the monthly payments that I could afford ( but did not want to pay). I was in the dealership for hours and I was alone. I HATED the process. I could have and should have called someone but I decided to do it alone. I walked away with a brand new Honda Civic. His name is Blue. My credit score helped me to get a pretty decent deal. I was streesed yet happy at the same time.

I know that you have noted every single mistake that I made during these processes. There were a lot of things that could have been done differently and a lot could have been avoided. When I purchase my next car, hopefully at least 5 years from now, I will be able to use a lot of tips that will help me to get the best deal and buy a new car in cash.

Here are some helpful tips to have when its time to buy a new car.

1. Know what you can afford
This is where that handy dandy budget comes in! The lady thing you is to make a big purchase that you will have trouble paying for. Go over your budget to see if you can afford a car and in what way. Can you afford a car note? Maintenance? Pay cash for a car? Afford the insurance monthly? These are just some things to consider.

2. Research, research, research

Car dealers have certain days where they have sales. I know that the end of the year can be a good time to purchase because dealers are often making room for the new cars.

Look around at different places ( don’t let all of them pull your credit

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. After you know what type of car you want and what you can afford, look around at different dealerships to see who has the best deals and the best car for you.

3.Financing

If you are not paying cash ( in full) for your car you will need financing.You can get financing through your bank, credit union, or through the car dealership. You want to make sure that you get the best option. This is where your credit score comes into play. This will determine how much and how long you will have to pay for your car.

 

Photo Credit: Cars.com

 

4.Shop for Insurance

You have to have insurance. Most dealerships
will not allow you to leave the dealership without insurance. If they do, run! Insurance can determine what car you get. I don’t think that you would want to have insurance higher that your car payment.

Also look into GAP insurance.GAP insurance cover your car in the even that your car is a total loss prior to the loan of the car being paid off.

5.Take a friend

The car buying process is stressful. It always helpful to bring a support with you. Buying a car is a big deal and you will want someone with you to ensure that you stick to your plan, are logical, and can help you see things forms different perspective.

6.Take a test drive

Before making this big decision, take the ride for a drive. You get to see how it feels and of the car really fits you and what you are looking for. If you are buying a used car you may also want to see if you can have a mechanic check out the car.

Bonus tip: Be patient

Being patient could save you a lot of time and stress during this process. Be sure to check out Cars.com to start researching.

I hope that these tips help in making your car buying experience a good one.