There’s no question that car buying is a pricey venture. In fact, outside of homes, vehicles are generally the most expensive purchases many of us will ever make. As such, it pays to do your homework before proceeding to purchase a new car. Given how much of your hard-earned money is at stake, it’s only natural that you’d want to save as much as possible on your next vehicle. So, if you’re looking to avoid overpaying on your next car, consider the following pointers.
Be Open to the Possibility of Buying Used
The desire to own a brand-new vehicle is perfectly understandable. For some people, the idea of purchasing a car that someone else has owned for an extended period is simply unthinkable. After all, everyone seems to have at least one nightmare story about a poorly maintained used car. By extension, pre-owned vehicles are often portrayed as comically rundown clunkers in various popular media. While such portrayals are typically used to generate laughs, it’s easy to see how they could help shape some consumers’ opinions of used cars.
Although some pre-owned vehicles are lemons, this certainly doesn’t represent the majority of used automobiles. Many dealerships pride themselves on stocking pre-owned vehicles that run like new and are priced to own. Additionally, certified pre-owned vehicles often come with convenient warranties that cover a wide array of services.
So, if you’ve never even entertained the idea of buying used, you’d do well to keep an open mind. Going the pre-owned route not only stands to save you a considerable sum, it can also expand your options exponentially. For less than the cost of an amenity-light new car, you can get a lightly used vehicle that’s packed to the brim with user-friendly features. As an added bonus, pre-owned vehicles tend to depreciate at a slower rate than their brand-new counterparts.
Consider Paying in Cash
For many of us, financing is the only way we can afford to own vehicles. Unsurprisingly, most people don’t have the cost of a new vehicle just sitting in their bank accounts. However, if you are able to pay for a vehicle in cash, you can save a significant sum over the long term, as this will prevent you from having to pay interest on a car loan. Additionally, having your new car completely paid off can provide you with tremendous peace of mind.
Depending on the dealership, paying in cash may also qualify you for special discounts. Some dealerships prefer to have customers pay for vehicles in full instead of dealing with car loans and will reward cash-paying accordingly.
Carefully Consider Insurance Costs
As any seasoned car owner can attest, a vehicle’s purchase price is far from its final cost. In addition to gas and maintenance, the cost of auto insurance is something that every responsible car buyer should carefully consider before deciding on a vehicle. Since some vehicles are considerably more expensive to insure than others, make sure to take insurance costs into account when exploring your options.
Do Business with Trustworthy Dealerships
As is the case with any type of retail business, not all automotive dealerships are equally accommodating. While some dealerships have perfectly fair business practices, others won’t hesitate to take advantage of customers at every possible opportunity. So, before beginning the search for your next vehicle, do a little bit of research on the dealerships in your area. If a dealership has generated a massive amount of negative feedback, it’s generally a good idea to avoid doing business with them. Car buyers in Glendale, AZ looking for a dependable Chevy dealer in Chandler should have no trouble finding a bevy of attractive options.
It isn’t difficult to see why so many of us want to make our vehicles last as long as possible. Not only are new cars expensive, the actual car buying process can also prove stressful on a number of levels. Rather than resign yourself to paying exorbitant vehicle prices, you’d do well to brush up on the general mechanics of car buying and head into the process with all the knowledge you need. In the interest of saving as much money as possible on your next vehicle, heed the tips discussed above.
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