There are close to 20,000 car dealerships in the United States, and these small local companies are responsible for selling over 40 million cars each year. Used cars are actually usually a better deal for consumers, because cars that are even one or two years older sell for up to 30% cheaper. Cars are expensive, so this 30% discount can be substantial. One of the best deals you can find at used car dealerships is the security of “buy here pay here autos.” These companies offer the security of having guaranteed auto financing when you get to a dealership and find a car that you like.
If you are in the market for a used car and you don’t know where to begin, it could be a good idea to purchase a vehicle at a “buy here pay here” car dealership, because then you don’t have to worry about the stress of finding an alternative auto loan. It can be hard to take if you walk into a car dealer and find the perfect car for you, only to learn that you can’t secure auto financing. However, you should definitely learn about the state of your credit before you even begin thinking about getting a new or used car because this can affect your decision about what to get. If you want to learn about some of the key things that should be on your to-do list before you purchase a vehicle, keep reading for a review of what you should do before checking out car dealerships.
- Get your finances in order
Before you make any big purchases like buying a new vehicle, you will want to make sure that you fully understand what your finances are and what things you currently owe. If you still owe a lot of money on things like credit cards, a mortgage or other debts, then this may not be the best time for you to embark on a search for a new vehicle. If you are overwhelmed by your financial situation and you really just feel like you can’t understand what’s going on, this may even be a good time for you to talk to an adviser who can help you organize your money and get everything in order. You may even have more money than you know, so it’s important to get everything together before you make a purchase!. - Set a budget and stick to it
You may really want the latest sports car release from your favorite car company, but if you can’t afford it then you should find out now, before you start looking at vehicles. It’s also important to set a high and low end of your budget, and you definitely should not exceed this amount. - Get an idea of what kind of car you want
Do you have kids who you are constantly taking around to soccer practice or dance lessons? Or are you single and you only drive yourself around, so you don’t need a lot of room? You should evaluate what you’re looking for in a car and use this as a starting point to determine what kinds of autos will work for your lifestyle. - Search around for the best deal
Once you’ve selected one model or a few that are your top contenders, search around with a few companies for the best deal. There can be drastic differences in prices, so you want to get a few quotes.
