New Cars

The Luxury of Buying a New Car

When it comes to car buying, some of us just have to focus on the new cars available. It's reassuring to know that no one else has owned it so it doesn't have even a tiny whiff of cigarette smoke or a door ding. Possibly the greatest reason of all is the amazing way that new cars smell. Forget those who tell us that the car depreciates by at least $1000 as soon as it leaves the lot.

Still, we want to pay the lowest possible price for our new beauty. That can be tricky, so it's time to do some homework. Most of us will be financing our car so the very first thing you need to do is obtain your credit report. We are now entitled to one free report per year from each of the three major credit agencies; Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Before approaching a dealership or deciding to buy a car online, make sure that all your credit information is correct and up to date. This will ensure that the seller can't trick you into paying a higher price or interest rate based on your credit.

Even after you've decided on one brand of the many new cars on offer, be sure to comparison shop. Not everyone will be asking the same price for one thing. Even dealers in the same region, selling the same cars, will vary in their pricing. For another, car dealers have tricky ways of adding on extra charges without clearly explaining them. They also have strategies for enhancing their profit margin by underpaying you for your trade-in. Or they may give you a really good deal on your trade in, but add the money you make back in somewhere else in the contract.

Once again, use the Internet to help you shop. The whole concept of car buying is totally different from what it was pre-web. There is no longer any reason why the consumer must be at the mercy of a car salesperson. You can learn everything about how cars are priced, how the dealers calculate their mark-ups, how much it cost to ship it to your city, what those rebates really mean to you, and what a truly fair price is for your car of choice. It doesn't mean you don't want the auto agencies not to get their share from the sale; it's just that you want that to be a fair amount. This is the era of taking charge of your car buying experience.