Standard advice during slow economic times calls for the tightening of purse strings and discourages making big purchases. The flip side to this scenario is the fact that many manufacturers are currently desperate to make a sale and you might find yourself missing out on the many great deals that are now available. If you want or need another vehicle and are in a position to afford the expense these handy tips for buying a new or used automobile.

• Read the fine print- As with any other contractual obligation, you should carefully read the fine print before signing on the dotted line. In many cases people get so caught up on the price, financing and monthly payment figure they fail to notice the question the many additional fees and charges that often appear in the fine print. Make sure you are aware of and in agreement with all charges and do not allow any blank spaces that may be filled in at a later date.
• Research the car and the car dealer- The stereotypical image of a car dealer is not favorable on the profession but there are reputable car dealers out there if you only take the time to do a little research. You can do a quick Internet search to see if you find any reviews either positive or negative from other consumers who have dealt with the dealership as well as checking out their record on the Better Business Bureau. If your dealer is local, ask around, you will likely be able to find someone who has done business with the company and they may be able to give you first hand details on their experience. If you have a specific make or model in mind you should research the vehicle in advance. This will give you a better idea of the going prices and leverage when you begin negotiations with the dealer.
• Check the history of used cars- Years ago you were at the mercy of the car dealer to disclose all the information about the history of a used vehicle and even then they were limited to what they knew about the car. Today that is not the case, if you are shopping for a used car you can find the history of the vehicle online using www.carfax.com. You will need the VIN number of the vehicle in question to request the vehicle history report. This is not a free service however the small fee you are required to pay for the vehicle history is a small investment to avoid purchasing a vehicle that will cost you more money down the road.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 13th, 2009 at 8:56 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.