8 Tips for Finding Your Perfect First Car

It’s not unusual to have sweaty palms and rapid breathing when contemplating buying your first car. Sure, you’ve had hand-me-down vehicles before, or maybe someone bought you a pre-owned vehicle as a high school graduation gift. But finding your perfect first car is an experience like no other.

The good news is that with some preparation beforehand, your first foray into car-buying can end happily with you finding the perfect car for you. Here are eight tips that can make your experience productive and pleasurable.

1.) Know what you’re looking for.

The first mistake many car buyers make is showing up at the dealership not knowing what their end goal is. You should be asking yourself questions about what the car is like that you’d love to be driving out in. Some of them are:

• What color do I want?

• Manual or automatic?

• Two-door or four-door?

• Front-wheel drive?

• What options do I want?

• What’s the warranty?

2.) Know your budget and stay within it.

You’re going to be tempted to buy a vehicle that costs more than you can afford. One of those temptations is purchasing an upgraded version of the standard model you’re interested in. All those extra bells and whistles can be very tempting. But, by having a pre-set budget amount on what you can realistically afford to spend and sticking with it, you won’t have buyer’s remorse when you write your first check for your new car. Spend only what you can afford; you won’t regret it.

3.) Know your credit score.

If you’re going to be applying for a loan, the interest rate you’ll be paying will be determined by your credit score. Knowing your score in advance allows you to strengthen it, which can save you thousands of dollars over the life of a car loan. Also, knowing your credit score will enable you to negotiate a better rate with the lender.

4.) Do your research.

There is an abundant amount of information available online about the makes and models of cars you have an interest in. Do a Google search on them, and you’ll find many helpful articles, including reviews in car-buying publications and testimonials from people that are owners of the vehicles you have an interest in.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask family and friends what they know about these cars. Not only will they tell you what they know, but they’ll also probably make recommendations for other types of vehicles that they like. The more information you have, the better. You don’t have to take everyone’s advice, but it’s good to hear it.

5.) Locate a reputable and convenient dealership.

A reputable dealership will take the time to find out precisely the type of vehicle you’re looking for and will find it for you. They’re going to find the perfect car for you, one that they are confident will be reliable and meet your needs.

A conveniently located dealership is essential, as well. Since they know the type of vehicle you’ve purchased, they’re the best choice you can make when it comes to repairs or regular maintenance. They’ll have trained technicians that are familiar with vehicles just like yours, which will give you peace of mind knowing that there is someone qualified to take care of your car after you buy it.

6.) Take a test drive.

Now that you’ve found a car you have a keen interest in, it’s time to get behind the wheel and take it for a test drive. As you drive it, you’ll naturally be thinking about how it looks on the outside, but you also need to be asking yourself practical questions about the car since you’ll be spending so much time behind the wheel. How does it handle? How does it brake? Does it have the acceleration you need? Consider these aspects as you drive the car.

7.) Negotiate for your best price.

Knowing in advance what vehicles you’re interested in are selling for in your area is valuable information as you sit with a salesperson or finance manager and are talking about price. The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price can give you an accurate idea of what other people have paid for a similar vehicle. The dealership has to make a fair profit to stay in business, but you also want to pay a reasonable price. Having pricing information before you test drive a car is an excellent way to make sure you don’t overpay for the vehicle you want.

8.) Secure financing.

It’s always a best practice to know in advance the loan amount you’ll qualify for. The last thing you want is to go through the entire car buying process only to find out that you can’t get the loan amount you need because of your credit score or income/debt level.

Check with your bank or credit union before going to the dealership. See what their interest rates are and what the approximate monthly payment amount is for the type of car you’re interested in. You may very well want to finance your car through the dealership if they have favorable rates.

Taylor & Sons Chevrolet is the type of dealership you want to purchase your perfect first car from. We stand behind every vehicle we sell because we only sell quality cars and trucks. Our professional and courteous sales team members will assist you in finding your perfect first car without any high-pressure sales tactics. We want this to be a pleasant experience for you, and the first of many vehicles you’ll purchase from us.

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