Purchasing a car is the second most expensive purchase you’ll likely make next to a home. No buyer wants to pay more than is necessary for a new car, and the good news is, you don’t have to. There are several tips and tricks you can use to get a great deal on the perfect car for your budget and lifestyle.
Find the best price.
The best way to save money on a new vehicle is to take advantage of competing price quotes online. Sites like Edmunds, TrueCar, and AutoTrader contain useful information such as the true value of the new car you are considering. Dealerships aren’t always transparent about pricing which is why you need to know the best price you can get so that you can negotiate a great deal for yourself. A smart way to get the deal that you want is to take a test drive, leave the dealership, and follow up the next day to negotiate the best price for your means.
Do your research.
Before stepping foot at a dealership, become an informed buyer by doing your research online. It’s a good idea to read over consumer reports about the vehicle type you are interested in. Don’t expect that dealers will be forthcoming about recall issues or safety data. Once you have the peace of mind that you’re choosing the right vehicle for your needs, get an idea of price range by comparing new versus used vehicles online so that you know the best price you can pay.
Get a better deal on the perfect car for your lifestyle with the expertise of a car buying service. The car buying specialists at Georgie have years of experience helping buyers get into their next vehicle for the best price. The car broker saves you the time and hassle of selling your old vehicle, obtaining finance from a financial institution, and securing insurance for your new vehicle by organizing everything for you.
The car specialists can arrange for your top car choices to be delivered to your home or office so that you can test drive them at your convenience. All of their new cars feature a full manufacturer’s warranty for extra peace of mind for a lasting hassle-free experience. Get the cheapest price on the perfect car with the help of a car buying service.
Buy in December or January.
The best way to get the lowest possible price on a new car is to purchase in December or January. Dealerships need to make room for new inventory, which means sales representatives will do anything to get buyers into a new car. Car dealers want to clear inventory by the end of the calendar year to meet their annual sales quotas and are more willing to offer incentives and discounts to buyers. Timing your purchase in December or January can mean an average savings of 7.7% on the MSRP.
Get a pre-purchase inspection.
Getting a pre-purchase inspection when buying a new car in-person is a critical step in the car-buying process. Have a reliable mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection to thoroughly inspect the car for signs of collision, body damage, the condition of the auto parts, and any other factors that could result in purchasing a lemon. Any issues that are found can open the door for negotiations and work to your advantage when trying to work out a deal. It could be a good option to purchase a repairable car if you have the time, resources, and know-how to make repairs.
Buy used from an auction.
You can find a good deal on a used car from an auction. Insurance companies sell cars that have been in accidents at auction to recoup their costs. Purchasing a salvage title is a cheap way to get into a new car so long as you are able and willing to make repairs. Auctions feature salvage vehicles, repairable cars, and junk cars for thousands less than what you’d find at a used car dealership.
You can find a range of salvage cars for sale on Auto Auction Mall, from sedans and compact cars to vans, SUVs, and salvage motorcycles. Buyers can purchase used, pre-owned, and salvage cars at wholesale prices through dealer-only car auctions across North America. The online marketplace helps buyers find the best pricing on used cars and offers to finance for U.S. buyers. Whether you are shopping for exotic vehicles based on mileage or prioritize vehicle size you can save big on the average cost of a new car through an auction.
Don’t do a trade-in.
It’s tempting to trade in your old car toward a down payment on a new car, but dealerships don’t offer the best trade-in prices. You could lose thousands on your old car’s true value trading in at a dealership as opposed to selling the car yourself. Whether you choose to sell your old car first to have cash towards a down payment on the next vehicle or you wait until after making a new purchase to apply the sale toward monthly payments, it’s important to get the best price on your existing car.
Buy long-distance.
Sometimes your perfect car isn’t in the same city or state as you are. While you may be getting a great deal on a new car, the logistics and shipping costs of getting it from point a to point b may blow the final price. The good news is that car shipping doesn’t have to be expensive if you know how to find a cheap car shipping service.
When it comes to how to ship a car cheaply, LAUSD knows how to find the cheapest car shipping company. Vehicle size, delivery location, preferences for an enclosed carrier versus open trailer, and shipping from one major city to another are all factors that determine shipping costs. Sometimes the cheapest way to get a new car across state lines is to rely on cheap car shipping.
Consider an import-export business.
Domestic sources don’t always have the best price on niche or exotic vehicles. Traditional car dealers are geared toward domestic buyers and often lack inventory available on the foreign market. The right place to look when navigating a niche marketplace is an import/export business. Export merchants source their inventory from suppliers, exporters, trade leads, and manufacturers as explained by Details.
They handle the logistics of car shipping and typically work with a freight forwarder or other export management company to safely transport motor vehicles from foreign countries. Always make sure that an international trader is a certified dealer. Export merchants perform market research on their products, all the more reason you should perform your own due diligence before buying at your own risk.
Skip the extended warranty.
Rarely is a third-party extended warranty worth paying extra money for. A warranty functions like a type of insurance that means you’re insured against the cost of major repairs. Extended warranties provide peace of mind but often fall short of their value. The fine print details often contain loopholes and exceptions that get the third-party warranty provider off the hook. The best option is to buy an extended warranty from the manufacturer, especially if you intend to drive the car for several years following the expiration of the factory warranty.
Keep these tips and tricks in mind when shopping for your next vehicle so you can get a great deal on the perfect car for you.
