Most people love new cars, but many hate the prospect of having to go shop for one. Given the substantial expense involved, preparing to buy a car requires a good bit of research in advance of your shopping trip. The article that follows below contains terrific guidance for anyone looking to buy a vehicle.

Anytime you are thinking about purchasing a car, you first need to know the true value of the car. This can be done by searching online for the MRSP and comparing it with the offers you find in your area. Be sure to check at many different sites first of all.

Never buy a car on your first purchase to the showroom. Every car dealer will try to get you to walk out with a new set of keys in hand. While this may be tempting, understand that this is a big purchase. Take your time shopping around and make sure that the deal you’re being offered is really the best one for you.

Don’t forget to look into the cost of parts for a vehicle before you buy it. Some cars, especially imports, cost significantly more to maintain than others. Investigate the cost of parts that wear out frequently, such as tires, brakes, and windshield wiper blades. Research the cost of alternators, spark plugs, and other engine components, too.

Have a clear understanding of what those upgrades will cost you. Purchasing the fancy stereo, leather seats and DVD player might be appealing, but those options can add a significant amount to the price of your car. Take some time to think about how much you really need the upgrades, and only purchase the ones you will use the most.

Prior to even stepping foot in a dealership, you need to know what kind of car you want. If you have kids, maybe you should be looking for a van or large SUV. If it is just you, maybe you want something more sportier. Either way, knowing what you want will make the whole process of shopping for a car easier.

Do not allow anyone to intimidate you into making a purchase that may not be the right one for you. Do not fall for lines like “This will be gone if you try to buy it later.” These types of statements are usually made to sway you into make a purchase right away.

Consider selling your car privately, rather than trading it in for the new car you want. You will almost always get more for your car through a private sale than you would through a trade in. Even if the dealership makes it sound like they are giving you a great trade in value, they will likely raise the price somewhere else to make up for the difference.

Do your research before you even step foot on a car lot. You want to have an educated position when it comes to such a large purchase. It is a good idea to know what models you are interested in, and what the fair price is for those specific cars.

Look online for incentives on the car you want. Many automotive manufacturers offer cash back or special financing on their vehicles. The dealership will not always tell you about these things up front. Take some time to educate yourself first so you can get the best deal once you are in the showroom.

Make sure to take your time. Even if you are really excited about buying a car, don’t run out and buy it on the same day. Make sure that you have taken the time to do research on safety, repairs and other factors before doing something you might end up regretting.

Never purchase a car the same day that you find it. A rule of thumb is to sleep on the decision. That way you have time to think about the pros and cons of the car and how much you think the car is for you. Do not worry that the car will be sold in the meantime as there are many more out there.

Find out how much it will cost to insure a specific vehicle before you purchase it. Insurers charge a lot more to insure sports cars than other vehicles. Even the color of the car can influence the insurance cost. To guarantee that you are not surprised once you have already paid for the car you must do your research.

Get a loan from your bank instead of the car dealer. A car dealership makes a lot of their income selling loans, and because of this, the loans are almost always more costly in the long run. To ensure that you pay as little as you can you should get a loan approved by a bank before you even begin looking for a vehicle.

Avoid As-is warranties when purchasing used cars. This is never a good decision. You need to aim for at least a two or three month warranty with your purchase. You will have no recourse of a major repair is needed immediately after you drive away from the dealer’s lot.

Cars go for better prices at the end of a month. There are quotas each staff member must meet. Take a couple days to negotiate at the end of a month to get a better deal.

Be sure you understand all the available incentives before you begin negotiations. You need to figure out what warranties, trade-in values, rebates and anything else that goes along with it. You can also haggle better if you’ve learned a lot more going into the dealership than you’d know if you just walked in without knowing anything.

The task of shopping for cars can be daunting, scary and of course, quite expensive. In order to make the most of the experience, it pays to conduct sufficient due diligence before heading to the dealership. Hopefully the information and guidance found above has provided you with the confidence you need to get the ball rolling.