Purchasing a New Car Checklist and Tips
Purchasing your first new car is a big buying decision. You want to be sure you are making the right choices. A good idea is to make a checklist so you know what you want your vehicle to do, be and have. For example, when I buy a new truck I would want the following:
- 4 wheel drive
- 4 door
- leather
- diesel engine
- etc.
Making a list helps you stay on track to select the vehicle that would meet your specific needs. It helps you quickly narrow down your selection especially since there is such a variety to choose from when buying a new car. You’ll easily find the vehicle that has the features you need and like.
Here are some great tips and a checklist to consider when selection and buying that new car.
Before the Dealership
- Check Safety Ratings – Be sure to check all safety tests including front collision, side collision, rollover, etc. The dealer will most likely be able to provide you with this information at the dealership too.
- Check Reliability Ratings – You can check other car websites to find reliability ratings on past year’s models based on customer feedback. It can give you a great idea on the model’s overall reliability.
- User Feedback – Check other car websites or forums for people that own the car. You can also find out information on the features and how other car owners like them.
- Get Pre-Approved – Many dealerships, banks and lenders offer online pre-approval. This can definitely speed up your time at the dealership and let you know what kind of loan you will be receiving on your new car. (more…)