Purchasing your first can be an exciting time for you. To help ensure you get the best car for you and that you get it in your driveway quickly, below are some tips that you should find helpful. You can then get your new car out on the road.
Find a Car
Before you start shopping, decide on the type of car that you want. Once you decide this look up the market value of the car so you know what price you should pay. The last thing you want is to pay too much for your car. Visit an auto dealership first to see if they have the type of car you want. Visit more than one dealership so you can find the best price. You can tell one dealership that you found the car at a less expensive price at another dealership and they will likely go down lower.
You can also look online for individuals that are selling a car. If you do find a car from an individual, make sure you get a lot of information. For example, ask them to show you maintenance records to ensure the car has been taken well care of. Get the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the car and have the number inspected by a certified mechanic. You can also purchase a vehicle history report on your own online.
Contact a Lender
Unless you are paying cash for a car, you need to find a loan for the vehicle, such as from your bank or other lender, to determine how high a loan you can get. This will ensure you have enough money for the car that you want. If you are getting a loan, check the interest rate, as this will determine what your monthly payments will be. Check with different lenders to see if any of them can offer you the lowest interest rate.
If you purchase your car from a dealership, you could do the loan through them if you prefer. They will try to find the best interest rate for you. Your interest rate will depend on your credit, however. For example, if you have good credit the interest rate will be lower than if you have bad credit.
Register the Vehicle
Once you find and have purchased your vehicle you will have to register it before you start driving it. This is very important because if you drive the car without a registration you will get stopped by the police and get a ticket.
The registration is a permit that shows your name and your address that proves you own the car. When you go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get the registration you have to show them the purchase invoice. They will also ask for other personal information, such as your driver's license. You also must have the Certificate of Title of the vehicle before they can register your vehicle, as well as proof of car insurance. Depending on the state that you live in, the DMV may ask for a damage disclosure statement. You need to be prepared to renew California registration, or the registration for whatever state you are in.
This information should make it easier to purchase your car and the process will go much smoother.
Share