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How to Spot the Right Deals When Shopping for a Car

Pranob Mehrotra
Updated on December 28, 2024

Buying a car can be difficult if you aren’t an auto enthusiast. There are many mistakes a person can make, from overlooking security features to not haggling. When you consider the rising cost of cars in the United States and Canada, it’s obvious why car buyers have to be able to spot good deals. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, this post has you covered. In this article, you will learn about the basics of identifying good deals, as well as learn some tips you can use to find the perfect car. 

Good Car Deals

Work Out a Budget

The first thing you should do if you want to get a good deal on a new car is to work out a budget. You won’t know how much you can afford to spend if you don’t come up with a budget. The experts behind this dealership car buying guide make clear that the best way to come up with a budget is to use the 20/4/10 rule, which is a 20% down payment, EMI that doesn’t exceed 10% of your monthly income, and a maximum four-year loan term. There are also free budgeting tools you can use online to calculate yours. If you do plan on buying your car using finance, it is very important to make sure you are going to be able to make ach and every repayment on time. Missing even a single one can have a negative impact on your credit score. 

Look for Promotional Offers

It’s not unusual for car dealers to hold promotional sales. Usually, they do this to purge old stock. However, if you want to get a good deal on a car and don’t care about buying the latest model, promotional sales are a great time to shop. Also worth noting is the fact that you can typically argue the price of cars already discounted down further. If you are not confident negotiating, you should bring somebody who is along with you. Negotiating, as will be explored in the next section, can be an effective way to save yourself a fortune when you are buying a new car. 

Negotiate with Car Dealers

A good habit to get into is negotiating. You can talk the price down on almost anything. However, something to note about car dealers is that they are expert negotiators. Most car dealers are very good at getting the best price possible for their cars, mainly because they take commission off of the top of sales. If you are not a good negotiator, as mentioned above, enlist the support of somebody who is. Most car dealers have permission from their partners to drop prices by as much as 10%. If you don’t negotiate with dealers, you will likely end up getting ripped off. Don’t hesitate to walk away if a dealer doesn’t want to budge on the price of a car. Walking away can be an effective way to force them to give you a discount. 

Car

Find Reliable Dealers to Work With

If you are shopping for a new car, it’s absolutely essential that you find reliable dealers to work with. There are likely many car dealers operating in your town or city. A good way to ensure you don’t get taken advantage of is to buy a car from a dealer that is partnered with a large manufacturer, i.e., Chevrolet or other heritage brands. A dealer who’s partnered with a large manufacturer will also be able to offer you attractive warranty plans and aftercare packages. Make sure to read a dealer’s reviews before you buy a car from them, as reviews can give you a lot of insight into a dealer’s customer experience. 

Find Attractive Warranty Plans

A warranty is a type of insurance that ensures car buyers are compensated in the event that their vehicles malfunction or break down. It’s worth noting that warranties only provide coverage if damage is not caused by the drivers, but instead by faulty parts. You need an accidental damage insurance plan in place to cover you for accidents. 

Test Drive Cars Before Buying Them

Finally, make sure that you test-drive cars before buying them. Test driving a car makes it possible for you to quickly determine whether a vehicle is suitable for you and your lifestyle or not. Most dealers allow people to test cars, though test drives are usually supervised. 
Buying a new car is never easy. If you don’t know a lot about cars, hopefully, the guidance given here will help you to get a good deal. Consider each point, make sure that you find reliable dealers to work with, and always look for promotional deals.




Pranob Mehrotra

Automobile Writer