Going to a car dealership can be both intimidating and exciting. If you want to end up with a car that you love, do your research. Use the following advice to help you make the best decision.

Take time to research your dealer before making an offer on a vehicle. You are sure to have more success in your negotiations if you already know how they typically do business. You need to know how people who own the car feel about it.

Have at least a general idea of what type of car you’d like before you walk into a dealership. Look up information online to see what is best for your budget and family. You will also be able to find a car you can afford and not be swayed by a salesman.

Make it a policy to always pay less than the sticker price. The price on the sticker isn’t what the dealer really wants. If you lack assertiveness, bring along someone who is comfortable with negotiating. You need to know what a decent price is going to be before you go so that you have a good idea of what you should pay.

Determine your maximum budget before you set foot on the lot. You should never purchase a vehicle if you cannot really afford it. The dealer isn’t the person that will pay your car off, you have to do it yourself.

Don’t drive your really expensive car to the dealer when you’re looking to buy another car. Once salespeople see your expensive vehicle, they will not accept any of your offers and try raising prices because they will assume you can afford to spend more on a vehicle.

Get the price settled before looking into additional incentives or trade-ins. These are costs that should be taken off of the final price of the car. You can get a fairer deal if you do it this way.

Shopping for a car is fun, but it can also be time-consuming. Did you know that you can save much time and money by doing comparison shopping from the comfort of your own home by logging into your computer? Many online sites offer side-by-side comparisons and other features to guide you through the selection process. You can use these resources to whittle through options to find your perfect choice, which just makes things easier and faster.

Although you may have a wish list of features, it is important to keep in mind that you might not find all of them in one car. You may not find the car of your dreams, or you may not be able to afford a car with all the extras. You’ll live without heated seats!

Read before you sign. Before you blindly start signing contracts on the dotted line, read the entire contract start to finish. Once you sign, you are legally bound by the entire document. If you do not want to be rushed while reading your contracts, ask if you can take things home to read in peace. If this is not possible, get a copy or purchase agreement to look over.

If you have a specific model in mind, give the dealer a call to see if they have one available. If you go there, your salesperson will try very hard to get you to buy that car. If you are truly interested in a particular model that they do not have, it is a waste of time to go there. Give them a ring and see what’s available.

Though car shopping can be enjoyable, it can also be stressful. However, by taking the time necessary to educate yourself about the process, it really is possible to enjoy the process and get the vehicle you truly need. Commit the tips included here to memory and go forward without stress or anxiety.