Get The Best Deal With These Top Car Shopping Tips Shopping for a car should be fun. Sitting behind the wheel is one of the best feelings you can have, and it stands to reason that the buying process should also be enjoyable. Most people think car buying is stressful, but you don't need to make it so. Use these tips to have a positive shopping experience. Do not allow yourself to get talked into a car you can't afford. Tons of people get talked into buying a sports car by a slick-tongued salesperson telling them they look fabulous behind the steering wheel. Remember that the salesman wants his commission! You want to make sure you've secured an automobile loan before going into the dealership. One reason car purchases take so long is because of the whole financial part. If you have your loan pre- arranged, the whole process will be easier. Do some online car shopping before going to a dealership. Never set foot on a lot until you are certain which make and model you are interested in purchasing. Always look online for the best deal on a used or new car. If you are purchasing a car from a private party, have your mechanic take a look at the car before you buy it. If the owner balks at this, it may not be wise to proceed with the deal. This typically means that there are issues they are trying to cover up. You don't want to buy into these without knowing about them first. Prior to buying a car, make sure you test drive it. Even if you have previously test driven the same make and model, you need to make sure that this car drives well. There could always be an issue with that specific car, and you will never know unless you drive it. If you feel like you can be talked into things easily, make sure someone goes to the dealerships with you. Have a friend or family member go with you to assist in asking the important questions and negotiating a price. Let the adviser know what you need in order to budget prior to going to a lot. Prior to shopping for a used or new car, check your budget. It is important to ascertain what you can and cannot afford. Discover exacly how much you intend to spend on a monthly note. Before looking at cars, you may want to shop around for a loan.