Going to a car dealership is an experience that is both exciting but also intimidating. Spending a few hours to research your options protects you and your loved ones from making unwise decisions. Keep looking for what you need, and follow the the advice presented here for information that can aid you in your quest.

Prior to going shopping for a new vehicle, you must be aware of your needs. What can you afford? How many passengers do you need to be able to accommodate? Is MPG important? Do you want a two-door car or a four-door car? Write out your wish list, and take it to the dealership with you.

If you don’t negotiate with a car dealership, you may as well throw your money in the trash. In fact, you should never purchase a car for the listed price. They purposely inflate the value to dicker with you, and you need to remember this fact.

Search for your car on the Internet before visiting a dealership. You should try to save your dealership trip until after you’ve decided on the type of car you want. Make sure that you do your homework to get the best possible deal.

Ask to have the car looked at by your personal mechanic before you purchase it from a dealer. If the dealership says no, go somewhere else. To the untrained eye, it’s almost impossible to determine whether a vehicle has been damaged in a flood, wreck or fire. A mechanic can identify these and other issues before you agree to buy the car.

It’s very important to go for a test drive before making a purchase. It’s important to test out the car you actually want to buy. There could always be something which makes you hate driving the car.

Do not mention trade-ins, incentives or down payments until you already have a price commitment on the car of your choice. These are costs that should be taken off of the final price of the car. It is to your advantage to lock in your deal prior to discussing any extras.

Rent cars to test them out. To really get to know a car, you can rent one locally and put it through its paces. Take your family out on a road trip in the car and really see if it is a good fit. This will allow you to get a glimpse of what life would be like with the car.

Don’t give any dealer a social security number. Dealerships often want this information early on. Having multiple dealerships check your credit will have a negative effect on your score. First have an ironclad deal before giving your SS number.

Search online for great used car deals. There isn’t a reason to go to a dealer anymore. Sites like Craigslist, eBay and online classifieds make finding a vehicle easy. Doing so can save time and money, and avoid a lot of the negatives associated with car purchases.

Call in advance for specific makes and models. Once you walk through a dealership’s doors, they will try to sell you anything and everything, even if it isn’t what you are really interested in. If you really want a four door sedan and they don’t have any, that’s a waste of your time. Call first and ask.

Though car shopping can be enjoyable, it can also be stressful. By learning about purchasing a vehicle, you can be more comfortable with the process which in turn will make it more enjoyable. You can have the best experience possible by applying what you’ve learned here.