How to Buy a Car
| How this Guide is Organized | |
| 1. Choosing the Right Car | |
| 2. New Vs. Used | |
| 3. Negotiating the Price on a Car | |
| 4. Financing | |
| 5. Owning a Car | |
General Motors
Americans love cars. We love them so much that we’re on track to buy over 16 million new cars and over 40 million used cars in 2014. With so many people buying cars, you’d think the process would be easy, with the buyer just giving money to the seller. Buying a car is more complex than that, unfortunately. You have to think about financing, insurance, registration, getting the best deal and oh yeah, the actual car you want. When you break buying a car down into steps, it becomes easier. Here’s how to buy a car.
Choosing the Right Car
You’re probably planning on keeping any car you buy for a few years and you’ll need it to do everything from commuting duty, carpooling, vacation driving and traveling in bad weather. Choosing the right car means knowing how much car you can afford, what you’ll use the car for and finally, what you want in a car. Read How to Choose the Right Car.
New Vs. Used
Once you know what kind of car you want, and maybe even have a make and model in mind, you need to decide if a new or used car makes the most sense for you. New cars have a lot going for them, but so do used cars. Deciding between the two usually means trading warranty coverage, peace of mind and that new-car smell for some pretty significant savings. Read New vs Used Cars.
Negotiating the Price on a Car
Car prices are flexible. Though you have a number of tools available (like our free Best Price Program, which gets you guaranteed savings on a new car), you still may need to negotiate the price of your car. Knowing how much you should pay, staying calm and avoiding discussing things that can confuse you, like financing and trade-in values, can help you get the best deal on your car. Read How to Negotiate the Best Car Price.
Financing
It would be great if everyone could pay cash for a car, but most people can’t. That’s where car loans come in. You can borrow money from a bank or financing company to get your car. You’ll probably need to put some money down and pay the loan back (with interest) over a period of years, but when you do, the car is all yours. Read How to Finance a Car.
Owning a Car
You’ve spent a lot of time finding the right car and getting the best deal, so now you need to take care of your investment. You’ll need to register it, get car insurance and you’ll need to know the best way to maintain your car and keep it on the road for the long haul. Read Resources for Car Owners.
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