Before you visit a car dealership, do this to save time and money!

3 min read

Buying a car or truck can be an exhilarating experience, but without proper preparation, it can also become overwhelming and costly. To ensure you get the best deal, it's essential to be well-prepared before stepping into a dealership. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process, save money, and avoid common pitfalls.

1. Research the Vehicle You Want

Identify Your Needs: Determine what features are essential for you, such as size, fuel efficiency, towing capacity, and technology.

2. Set Your Budget

Know Your Finances: Calculate how much you can afford for a down payment and monthly payments. Consider your overall financial situation, including your credit score.

3. Do Your Research

Price Comparisons: Utilize websites like our SaveOnMyAuto.com (free to use). By using our site as a first step, it can save you a ton of time / money for you. Allowing you to see all the prices and cars available in your local area with one click before you take the time to go to a dealership. Saving you a significant amount of time, and allows you to view current deals, promotions, rebates and incentives available to you based on your zip code. Give it a try here.

4. Understand the True Cost

Total Cost of Ownership: Consider the long-term costs, including insurance, maintenance, fuel, and depreciation to understand what you can and cannot afford.
Dealer Fees: Be aware of additional fees that dealerships might add, such as documentation fees, delivery fees, and dealer preparation fees. See more info on negotiable fees here.

5. Prepare for Negotiation

Know the Invoice Price: Find out the dealer’s invoice price—the amount the dealer paid for the car. Websites like our SaveOnMyAuto.com (free to use) can help you.
Have a Target Price: Aim for a price close to or below the invoice price. Set a realistic target.
Trade-In Value: Be prepared to negotiate this separately from the new car price.

6. Plan Your Visit

Timing: Visit the dealership at a time when it’s less busy, such as weekdays or toward the end of the month when salespeople might be more eager to close deals.
Bring Documentation: Have all necessary documents ready, including your driver’s license, proof of insurance. Should you have a financing pre-approval, or information on your trade-in, bring this as well.

7. Test Drive and Inspect

Test Drive: Always test drive the car to ensure it meets your expectations in terms of comfort, performance, and features.
Inspect Thoroughly: Look over the vehicle for any damage or issues, especially if it’s a used car. Some salesman will turn on the AC / Radio, you may want to either shut those of or turn those down to hear how the vehicle runs. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about its history and request a vehicle history report. Did you know that CarFax and other so called title checkers do not always capture accidents? It is just something to be aware of as a small percentage of accidents are sometimes settled privately rather than through insurance which CarFax and others get their info from.

8. Stay Focused and Be Prepared to Walk Away

Stick to Your Plan: Stay firm on your budget and don’t get swayed by add-ons or extras you don’t need.
Be Ready to Walk Away: If the deal doesn’t meet your expectations, be prepared to walk away. There are always other cars and other deals.
Explore Financing Options: Check interest rates from banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Dealerships almost always mark up the cost of your loan to make a profit on loans as well, look at your private options to try and save on financing.

Potential Savings

By following these steps and using resources like SaveOnMyAuto.com, you can potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars and avoid spending a long day at a dealership. SaveOnMyAuto.com helps you avoid overpaying by informing you of local pricing, while understanding the full cost of ownership and negotiating smartly ensures you won’t face unexpected expenses down the line.

In summary, preparation is key to a successful car purchase. Use SaveOnMyAuto.com and being ready to negotiate, you’ll be in a strong position to get the best deal possible. Happy car shopping!