Car shopping can be loved or hated. Doing your homework in advance is really critical to clearing up the process of buying a new car. Begin by going over the advice in this piece, and you can then shop with confidence.

If you can’t afford a car, don’t let the salesperson talk you into buying it. Salespeople will try talking you into buying a luxury or a sports car by telling you this car corresponds to your personality. Know that the person selling you the car is interested in commission, so when they sell a pricy car, they get paid more.

Purchasing a vehicle from private parties is a great choice, but have a mechanic give it a once over. If the owners prevent this, you may want to look elsewhere. There might be hidden, expensive issues that have a bearing on whether the car is right for you. You probably shouldn’t get into this without figuring out who they are first.

Make it a policy to always pay less than the sticker price. The list price is certainly not set in stone. If you can’t negotiate, bring in a skilled friend. Before you set foot on the lot, research the vehicle to determine what constitutes a fair price.

Expect to spend a few hours in a dealership when shopping for a car. You don’t want to feel like you’re rushed when trying to get comfortable about a deal. Allowing for an entire afternoon is best. If you don’t have enough time on your hands, you can always finish up another day.

Look at a vehicle’s fuel efficiency and how it will work with your budget when buying a car. As an example, you may want to buy a car with enough power to tow a boat behind it. Think about when you would actually use this and then factor in all that extra gas.

If you already have a pretty expensive car, do not drive that to the car dealership to make a purchase. This is especially important if you plan to trade in the vehicle. A salesperson may use this as grounds for rejecting any less-than-generous offer.

Never discuss down payments, incentives, or trade-ins until you’ve established an actual price on your desired car. You want these extras to reduce the price. Negotiating first can get you a better price, and then you can discuss these little “extras.”

Try planning car shopping trips near the end of a month. Salesman are often struggling to fulfill quotas at this time. At month’s end, sales staff who need to fulfill a quota may be more likely to give you a better price in order to sell a vehicle.

When you are shopping for a car, don’t let the dealer know up front that you have a trade in. You want to offer your trade-in after you’ve already negotiated the price of your vehicle. If you disclose too early, the dealer can use the trade-in against you and give you a poor deal on your new car to make up for the trade-in.

Never sign any type of auto contract until you read it. You will have to sign a contract at the dealership, and you should read it carefully. Once you sign, you are legally bound by the entire document. You can always take it home with you to read it. If this is not possible, get a copy or purchase agreement to look over.

It is hard to dispute the fact that purchasing a car can be a very intimidating experience for many. As long as you’re willing to learn about the process of buying and selling automobiles, you will be prepared enough to get a great deal on a solid car. Now that you’re ready, it’s time to head out and buy yourself a new car!