Buying a car is a big deal. You want to make sure you make a purchase that you won’t regret. The following article has some very helpful tips and tricks that will help you get the car that you need for the price you want. Read on and learn what it takes to buy a car.

Prior to going shopping for a new vehicle, you must be aware of your needs. What fits in your budget? What is the passenger capacity you will need? How many miles per gallon would you like? Do you want two or four doors? Make a list of everything you want, and take that list along so you can remember everything.

Do not get your heart set on a particular model of car when you are car shopping. You need to leave your options open so that you can get the best deal possible. The exact car you have decided you want may not be the best available option at the time you are ready to buy.

When buying a used car, be very careful about how clean the car is. Many car salespeople have professional cleaners who can make a piece of junk look brand new. Always get the car checked by a mechanic. Even if it looks fantastic, a mechanic will be able to spot any major issues.

When you are considering buying a used car, always have your mechanic check it out first. You are not a qualified mechanic trained to spot problems or repairs, so you need to take it to a professional. Be prepared to pay $100 or so for this service, but it may end up saving you thousands.

Once you have found the perfect car, ask for a vehicle history report. A vehicle history report will list any instances that the vehicle has been involved in. If your dealer does not offer this service, you can purchase one yourself online for a nominal fee. This report will help you avoid purchasing a car that has been in a wreck.

Never purchase a car without taking a test drive first. No matter how perfect the car looks, you must test drive it. The dealer may have a silver tongue, but your own experience and judgment is what matters. Perhaps the car isn’t quite as smooth as you thought.

If you are car shopping and want to test drive some different cars, make sure you bring your license and insurance card with you. Many dealers will want a photo copy of them before you drive. This is just to protect them in case someone steals or damages a car. If you do not have them with you, they might not let you test drive.

Many people who have bad credit end up at a buy-here pay-here dealership. Be very careful of these types of dealers. Usually they buy cars at auction for little money and the majority of the money they make is off of the high interest rates they charge. If you have any choice, always get a loan from a bank, not the dealership.

When purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle that comes with a warranty, make sure you read the fine print. Most warranties on these vehicles only cover power-train and don’t cover much else. There are also cases in which the warranty may not be transferable which would make it void in your case.

Check for dealer incentives. You might want to call ahead to a few different dealerships to find out which promotions; they are running that may benefit you. Do that before going out to a million different spots. Just use the phone and ask them personally, and you may be able to save more on your car.

Research the laws in your state when it comes to purchasing a bad car. There are some states that have lemon laws. They will protect you from buying a car that isn’t in great condition and not being able to get a refund. Not every state has these laws, which is why it is important for you to do your research.

When purchasing a car, you don’t want to tie yourself down to one specific model. Give yourself some flexibility in color and even in the car itself. If you do this, you will be able to pick up a great deal, even if it was not the first car you considered.

If you know what kind of car, you want, and you know what dealership you want to go through, give them a call before you go. This way, the dealer can have the car ready for a test drive when you get there. It will save you and the dealer time that could be spent negotiating.

Take the time to find the car that you want before heading to the dealership. Learn about the available options for that car. Furthermore, research to find out what other consumers are paying for that car with the options that you want. This way, you can better be prepared to get the dealer to sell you the car for what it’s worth.

If a car salesman tells you, a deal is only good for today, do not fall prey to this trick. Dealerships like to put a sense of urgency into the negotiation process in order to get you to make a hasty decision. This always works to their benefit, and it rarely works to yours. If a deal is offered to you today, any reputable dealership will extend it to you tomorrow.

Ask to see the service records of a used car. If the previous owner was maintaining the car properly, they kept the receipts of all the work done to it. Usually you will have paper work from oil changes, tire changes, brakes, and any other routine maintenance that was done to the vehicle.

As you now know, there are many different things to consider when buying a car. If you rush into it, you are likely to make a decision you’ll regret. Make sure to implement the advice given and you are sure to purchase a vehicle that you’ll enjoy for years to come.