How To Buy A Car and Remain Stress Free

Some things are common sense, but for some people the sense just isn't common!!

Most people just know that you don't decide one day to buy a car and walk home that night with one. It is important to plan ahead and make sure a purchase this big is done right.

The 3 main factors when purchasing a vehicle, whether new or used are:

• Research the model, make and year of your vehicle. How many seats do you need? What is the gas mileage? Is there are particular colour? You can be as specific as you want to be. Check the blue book prices. What years were good years? Are the parts and labour easily accesible? How expensive are the parts? This is important if you are buying a foreign vehicle. What about past experiences of others? It won't always be the same for everyone, we all take care of our things differently, but were there any major issues that need to be addressed before you buy it? How about warranty? Do you want some factory warranty left if you are buying used? What kind of extended warranty can you get? If you are buying new, what warranty is included and can you do any better? Does the warranty limit you to having the work done in their shop? If so, how are their work areas? Are the workbenches clean? Are they cluttered? Are the floors a mess? So, point number 1 is RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!
• Next, check to see what you qualify for in financing. Not everyone has the opportunity to buy a vehicle outright. It would be nice for us to be in that position, but for the most part people are going to need to find some good auto financing options. How much can you afford? How much do you need? How long will the term be? What is the interest on it and can you beat the interest rate by going somewhere else. Don't be afraid to shop around. Everyone wants your business, so don't hesitate to ask what perks you can be offered, or how one competitor can beat another competitor. Ultimately, you are the one who will (and needs to) win!
• Finally, you need to find the dealer you want to buy from. There are more questions associated here. How long have they been in business? Are they registered with the local BBB? How clean are their shops/showrooms/lots? Do they have any other services they can offer you? Find out where your family and friends have purchased their vehicles. It is always good to shop around again. Just jumping into the first dealer or seller with a good price is not always a good thing.

Take your time, know what you want, plan ahead. It is easy with large purchases, such as cars, vans etc...and houses and other items, to lose a lot of money. Poor planning on our parts can result in devastating after effects.

Don't make the same mistakes, learn from others, and you will enjoy your purchase for many years to come when you buy your vehicle "Stress Free"!!