Buying a car can be an intimidating process, especially if you are a girl who is car shopping on her own. The media often portrays girls as being nave creatures who cannot fend for themselves when it comes to vehicles. However, with the right knowledge and information, any woman can confidently search the classified ads or swim with the sharks at dealerships.
Know How Much You Can Afford
When buying a new car, a car shopper should figure her budget so she knows exactly what she can afford. This is especially helpful if she needs to finance a car and make monthly payments. According to Consumer Reports, a car shopper should also take into account how much of a down payment she can make, as this will affect the monthly auto payment. A rule of thumb to follow, according to Consumer Reports, is to keep the monthly car payment and auto insurance price to less than 36 percent of the buyer's monthly income.
Seek Your Own Financing
Before setting foot on a car lot, a car shopper should have her own auto loan in place from a credit union or bank. Dealerships try to attract customers with attractive financing deals and incentives, but do not offer the same overall savings as other financial institutions.
Know Your Needs
A car dealer or private seller may try to make a small sedan in a girl's favorite color seem like the perfect car for her. This small car may not meet her needs if she has children or if she often drives over rugged terrain. Creating a list of reasons to purchase a new car can help the shopper stay focused, as well as help the dealer show her the most appropriate vehicles on the lot.
See the Vehicle History Report
When a girl is looking to purchase a used car from a private seller or a dealer, she should always look at the vehicle history report. These reports show the number of accidents a car has had, and the number of owners. Determined private sellers and reputable dealerships often have a vehicle's history report on file.
Test-Drive the Car to Your Mechanic's
Dealerships often have their own mechanics look at a car and print a report of their findings. Nevertheless, a car shopper should insist on making a pit stop at her own mechanic's garage during a test drive. If a private seller or dealer makes a fuss about a customer wanting to have her own mechanic look at the car, this is a cause for concern and a sign that this might not be the right car to purchase.
0 comments:
Post a Comment