Purchasing a Car
Car dealerships are a business. And, like any other business, they need to make money. Therefore it's pretty reasonable to assume that car dealers are out to sell you a car and make the most money possible on the deal. As a consumer, you want to get the best product for the best price. To attain that goal, you must avoid the common and costly pitfalls of car buying. Here are some points to ponder before you purchase:
There are two times of the year in which you will get the best price on a car: the last two weeks of December and July to October.
Competition gets you the best price. Know what other dealers are charging for the car and then the deal will be on your terms, not the dealer's.
Know your credit history and remember that it is illegal for anyone to run a credit check on you without your permission. Some car dealers actually ignore this rule.
Don't give the dealer your license or social security number.
Cars that need to be ordered from the factory should NOT cost more than the cars on the lot. Don't be fooled.
Be wary of letting a car dealer locate the car you want from another dealership. They often charge you unnecessary fees.
It is illegal for a car to have a missing MSRP or price invoice sticker.
Don't fall for advertising. Do your own independent research.
The thing that makes most car buyers nervous is that they know they are going to have to negotiate. Don't be afraid of negotiating. If you go into the dealership with a very good idea of what you want and what you want to pay, the negotiating is up to them, not you. You've done your work and now the dealer has to work to get closest to the price you want to pay.
One common dealer scam happens after you have decided to buy the car. At this point, the car salesman may start asking you to pay a variety of extra charges. This can mean hundreds or even a thousand or so dollars. Don't fall for these tactics. You agreed on a price and you should stick to it. Don't be afraid to walk out of a dealership if you feel that you are being treated unfairly. The bottom line is it's your money and you don't want to lose it because you didn't speak up.
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