Car Buyer’s Checklist

When looking for a new car, you should:

Conduct thorough research on every car you like
Look at different places for a new car
Be smart about online fraud
Research your financing options
Research your car insurance options
Always take a test drive
Ask the sales person questions
Ask other people questions
Do not buy a car unless you are certain
Ask about warranties

Once you have found a car that you like, you should:

Contact the dealership and ask about the car
Make an appointment to see the car
Inspect the car thoroughly inside and out
Bring a friend to the dealership
Ask specific questions about the car
Find another dealership if you don’t like the sales person
Be friendly, but firm with the sales person
Trust your instincts and walk away if you think you are not getting the best deal

When you are comparing cars, you should:

Compare features
Compare price
Compare warranty
Compare depreciation value
Compare rebates and sales

Learning how to negotiate with sales people can be frustrating and very uncomfortable at first. You should:

Tell the sales person exactly how much you have to spend
Do not look at cars that are overpriced
Research the car before going to the dealership
Ask about the invoice and the sticker price
Suggest a price that is fair
Do not accept an offer right away
Visit multiple dealerships
If the price is too high, then walk away

When you are going over options for your new car, you should:

Decide which options you need and which ones you want
Stick to your budget
Add safety options if you can
If you don’t need extras, then don’t take them
Do not get talked into options by sales people

When you are looking at the paperwork, you should:

Carefully read all the fine print
Ask questions if you do not understand
Do not sign anything until you are sure the numbers match
Refuse to pay fees you do not have to pay
If you find minor damage after purchase, fill out a ‘due bill’ and get it in writing

When looking for car insurance, you should:

Check out different companies
Ask for quotes
Determine the kind of car insurance you will need
Look into ways to reduce your car insurance
Talk to customer service about questions or concerns
Compare policies
Understand what will be covered and what will not under the policy