Car Buying Guide
Learn How To Buy A Car Like a Pro
With These 11 Simple Steps to Buying a Car
The following car buying guide is a culmination of my nearly 12 years experience in the car business and the multiple thousands upon thousands of car deals that I have been a part of.
My experience in the car business
has shown me what steps to buying a car... - Have worked for customers
- Have not worked for customers
- Have worked for car dealers and...
- Have not worked for car dealers
My goal here is to share with you my experience so that you can avoid the pitfalls and learn the right steps to buying a car for maximum time, money and stress savings. If after reviewing the 11 step guide below, you still have not found what you are looking for, then please feel free to contact me here: Car Buying Questions? Ask the Expert!.
11 Simple
Steps To Buying A CarI recommend reading the car buying guide in order, but of course, if a section does not apply to your situation, then feel free to skip to the relevant sections. If you are a first time car buyer or have not bought a car in a long time then I'd highly recommend starting with step one on through to step 11. No matter what your level of "expertise," I'd recommend reading 7 Types of Car Buyer as this will help you to establish a solid understanding of the car buying game - who wins, who loses and why. This 11 step car buying guide will show you how to buy a new car and how to buy a used car, but you'll typically only see me reference new cars through most of the guide.
Before You Go...
| >> | Step 1 - Your Credit Report and FICO Score
Do not let the car dealer know more about your credit, then you. This applies to both excellent credit and not so excellent credit customers. A small $50 medical collection can lead to a 3 point hike, or more, in your interest rate. If there is more than that, you could be out right denied.
Learn more about your Credit Report-FICO Score | | >> | Step 2 - Get Pre Approved for Your Auto Loan
Car dealers make hefty profits when they arrange financing for you. This can equate to hundreds or even thousands of dollars that you'll overpay. In addition, getting pre approved gives you the power to buy like a cash buyer!
Learn more about the power of a Pre Approved Auto Loan | | >> | Step 3 - Know the Different Car Dealer Insurance
There are five different "insurance" coverages to know about when buying a car. Whether or not you want them is up to you, but it's beneficial to know before you go!
Learn more about Car Dealer Insurance |
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Now that you've taken care of some of the leg work, it's time to get to the fun part of the car buying guide...Ready? Set? Shop!
Get Prepared To Go... | >> | Step 4 - Figure Your Car Buying Budget and Shop
Figure how much monthly payment you can afford and use that to figure how much car you can buy. This will show you how to buy for payments without being a "payment buyer." Once you've figured how much car you can buy, it's time to shop.
Learn how to budget and where to Shop Cars Online | | >> | Step 5 - Figure Your Car Trade In Value
Do not let the car dealer tell you what your car is worth to them, figure what it's really worth. Car dealers are notorious for low balling trade ins, which can cost you thousands.
Learn more about your Car Trade In Value | | >> | Step 6 - Figure The Dealers New and Used Car Cost
Find new car invoices and use some "Insider" tricks to figure a car dealers used car costs.
Learn to figure Used Car Cost and find new car invoices |
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At this point in the car buying guide, you're quickly becoming a car buying pro...Let's head to the dealership and show 'em who's boss!
Once You're There... | >> | Step 7 - Learn to Inspect Used Cars Before Buying
Inspect like a pro with these inspection tips. If you know how to spot major problems upfront, you can save yourself the $50+ professional mechanics inspection fee.
Learn to perform Automobile Inspections like a pro | | >> | Step 8 - Negotiate With a Four Square
Four square negotiating has been used for years buy car dealers. Why? because it works to take peoples money...Learn what it is, what to expect and how to use it to your advantage.
Learn Four Square Negotiating | | >> | Step 9 - FedEx It and Make it an Overnight Delivery
Of all the car buying tips you'll find on this site and in this car buying guide, I'd say this is one of, if not the single most important step to buying a car.
Learn about the Borrowed Car Agreement | | >> | Step 10 - Prepare to Head Into the Finance Office
Scam city! Not to say all Finance Managers are scammers, I'm a Finance Manager, but this is the place where I'd say 80% or more of all scams take place.
Learn about the Finance Office and how to avoid scams |
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Congratulations! You've done it and done it right. All that's left in the car buying guide is to take it home, show it off...and take it back?
The Paperwork Is Done, Now What? | >> | Step 11 - Take Delivery of Your New Car
Let's talk about taking delivery and getting "We Owes/Due Bills" work done. Also what to do if something went wrong and you have a bad case of buyers remorse.
Take It Home or Take It Back |
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Step 11 -
Take Delivery
Of Your New CarCongratulations! You've made it to the 11th and final step of the car buying guide and are now ready to take delivery. If you have followed the previous 10 steps to buying a car, then you can pat yourself on the back, because you now know how to buy a car like a pro and you can feel confident that you are getting a great deal all the way around. Upon delivery of your new car, all you really need to do is give your new car a good one over inside and out. Make sure that the detail department has done an adequate job preparing and cleaning your new car and make arrangements to have any "We Owes/Due Bill" work done. Also be sure the salesman covers all of the options on the car and explains how to use everything, not just the radio. If for whatever reason you find that after buying your new car there is a problem that is not being handled to your satisfaction by the car dealership then read my Buyers Remorse article for further advice. If all is well, then all that's left to do is map out a route to all your family and friends houses to show off your new car.
This car buying guide was to designed to: take you from beginner to advanced car buyer and help teach you how to buy a car like a pro! I hope that it has been helpful to: clear up any confusion, get you a great deal, eliminate tons of stress and find you a car that you'll be happy with for years to come.
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