When planning on buying a new car, you need to make sure that you have figured out how much you can afford, that is why it’s important to create your own budget first.
As well as doing as much research as you can on the vehicle you have in mind, you should be doing the same when it comes to shopping for tax, maintenance fees, and insurance from sites like https://www1.johnson.ca/auto-insurance that cover all necessary areas.
You need to know that when buying from a car dealer, their prices aren’t fixed, which is why you need to brush up on your best haggling and negotiation skills so that you get the best deal possible.
Check the car’s price list
You need to know exactly how much the car you want is going for. Browse the internet by typing in the exact vehicle you have your eyes on, and then go on as many different sites as you can to compare the different prices, that way you have a basic idea of the average price it is going for.
Know the features you need
It is very easy to get talked into things that you don’t need that end up costing a lot more than you had anticipated. Having said that, it’s also easy to get talked into lowering down your specifications in order to bag a ‘great deal’.
But your goal is to get everything you want for the best price, not come away with a cheap car that doesn’t have you wanted it to.
Check the competition
If the dealers that you were planning on buying from have a competitor, one very clever idea is to look at their own prices for the exact same vehicle.
You can then use this to your advantage and have the possibility of going even lower than the lowest price.
Always go for a test drive
When doing this, make sure that you try and do everything you can in it. This means taking sharp bends around corners, reversing, using the breaks, sitting in traffic, driving up hills, and along an open road.
If possible, try and compare its performance between the lower and higher specifications of the same vehicle.
Keep your cards hidden
When speaking to the salesperson, never let them know what your maximum price is because as soon as they know that, that is where they will stop, and they may have been willing to go a lot lower.
Start stupidly low
You need to set a ballpark for you both to play in, so suggest a number far lower than what you are actually willing to pay.
This way you can gauge their reaction and get more insight as to how low they will go. Then from there, you can gradually increase the number if needed until you reach the final outcome.
Try walking away
Of course, you’re there to make a deal because you want the car that they’re selling, but if the dealer isn’t playing ball and refuses to go to the number you were hoping for, don’t be afraid to walk out.
If you’re not happy, don’t settle – find someone else instead.
