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7 minutes read. Published August 23, 2022
Edited by Naomi Mannino Written by Contributing writer
Naomi Mannino is a contributing writer at Bankrate. Naomi writes about loans and banks.
Editor: Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor
Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are passionate about helping readers gain confidence to control their finances with clear, well-researched information that breaks down complicated topics into manageable bites.
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In the , the purchase of cars online has increased dramatically in popularity among Americans. And it’s a development that’s here to stay. As an informed consumer it’s important to know how to get the most effective car deals when shopping online. You have easy access to an immense amount of information that can aid you in the online buying process. Starting with the manufacturer’s suggested Price (MSRP) as well as trade-in values as well as financing, incentives, inventory, expert ratings and reviews from customers Every detail you need is easily found online. Make use of all this information to your advantage to make an educated decision when shopping. 1. Set your budget Your first step should be determining how much you can spend. This involves calculating the regular and one-time costs. The cost of fuel, as well as your down payment all contribute to the cost of purchase and ongoing monthly cost of owning a car. It is important to take into account the interest you’ll be paying since it will have the largest influence on your monthly installment and overall cost. Buyers with better credit scores are better rates than those who have lower credit scores. Bankrate tip: Experts advise having at minimum a 20 percent down payment and spending not more than 10 percent of your monthly budget for all car costs, including maintenance and insurance. 2. Pre-approved for an loan For the best bargain on a car loan, research your options and talk to an lender prior to approaching any dealerships online or in person. Banks, credit unions and online lenders offer preapproval periods that allow you to see your potential cost of interest and the monthly installment so you can shop smartly. And when you have preapproval you can utilize it as leverage when . Dealer financing involves big markups and a loan online first will help to get the best price. “When you’ve agreed on a price, show the dealer the financing you have secured and ask if they can beat that price,” says Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor for Kelley Blue Book. “Sometimes dealers have little-known incentives attached to manufacturer-sponsored financing, which could save you money.” Bankrate tip: By prequalifying for a loan in advance, you’ll know your interest rate, which plays a significant role in how much your monthly payment will be and the total cost over the life of the loan. 3. Find the perfect vehicle for you. Most people use the internet to find out everything they can about the car’s make, model and alternatives. Websites offer professional reviews and information on hundreds of vehicles, detailing the top vehicles that are suitable for various lifestyles, says CarGurus Deputy Editor Matt Smith. “And thanks to YouTube, consumers do not have to go to the car lot to have a look at cars that interest the them.” Smith says. You can do most purchases online, which cuts back on time at the car dealership. In some instances, dealers offer entirely online buying processes, although it may not come with the ability to negotiate price. Bankrate tip: It can be an excellent idea to see a car in person before signing a sales contract. You can call the dealership and ask the salesperson to take photos of the vehicle for you, but you should always take a test drive and mechanic inspection before buying. 4. Research the value of your trade. Knowing the worth of your trade as well as looking for other options of selling your used car could help to pay more towards the new car’s purchase price. It is possible to sell your car to the dealership, but you should know how much it will sell for before accepting a deal. Many people look up Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds to determine the value of their old cars. Furthermore, car shopping and research websites like CarGurus make use of algorithms to determine the value expected for trade-ins of cars based on their characteristics including its age the mileage, its location and other features. There are three ways to dispose of your old vehicle — and you can do it online, too. Sell your car to a dealer even if you don’t have plans on buying from it. You may also receive an offer on your vehicle via the Instant Cash Offer feature on AutoTrader.com A website that allows purchasing and selling new and used cars with participating local dealers. Sell it yourself privately for cash. Look up your model and make online to determine the price and availibility on websites like eBay and Craigslist. Sell it to a used car dealer like CarMax or Carvana. Get a guaranteed cash value and compare the price with the one you’ve seen on the internet. Bankrate tip: Don’t just go for the convenience factor and exchange your used car at the dealership which is where you’ll likely receive the lowest price for it. Request estimates and use them as negotiation tools. 5. Find local inventory If there is a limited supply of the vehicle you’re looking for on dealer sites There’s less of a chance to get a great deal So, make sure you check what local dealerships have in stock. Contact several dealerships to ask about availability of the vehicle you’re thinking of. Beyond dealerships that allow an online application, look to private auctions. There are a myriad of websites that help buyers and sellers meet, and you might be able to get a good deal by skipping the dealership completely. You might also look into shopping with mixed in-person and online dealers such as TrueCar. This will allow you to quickly browse the inventory on both the national and local level to make your search as broad, especially if want to buy a specific used model. Bankrate advice: Search for cars with two VINs (vehicle Identification Number) in the listings and images that show the exact vehicle being sold, rather than stock photos. 6. Contact local dealerships to get prices. Once your online research is completed Contact dealerships to request price quotes online. Many dealerships now have departments that are dedicated to online sales, and whether you email the sales department via their website or complete a contact form on the site of the dealer, you should reach someone who has the authority to quote you a price. “The greater the number of quotes that you can get the greater leverage you’ll be able to use when sealing your deal” states Quincy Reeves, the editor from Consumer Reports. “But remember that many dealers are going to be reluctant to give the best price unless they can be certain that you’re going to buy from them.” Bankrate’s advice: Be as specific as you can regarding the model, make, model and options and inquire with several dealers for their most competitive prices. Compare them with the research price ranges as well as one another to determine which is best. 7. Examine the trade-in value and financials When you’ve negotiated a price with a few dealers, you can negotiate the value of the trade-in as well as the financing. Just ask the dealer to make the best price to purchase your vehicle. “Trade-in valuations have risen dramatically between 2020 and 2021. Therefore, if someone is considering buying a new car and has a used vehicle that they want to sell, they must always see how much the dealership is willing to provide,” says Smith, of CarGurus. Prices continue to rise for used vehicles and this means that you could find a better bargain in 2022. It is also possible to make mention of AutoTrader.com’s trade-in price at participating dealerships. When you’ve received quotes on your behalf, compare the quotes and decide if you’ll agree to a dealer’s deal, or sell it privately or accept an offer from a used-car dealer like CarMax. Make sure you inquire about rebates and financing incentives. If you have a preapproval from your lender and you have it, you should mention those because it’s like being a cash buyer- taking financing and the cost of the downpayment out of the dealer’s profit equation. Ask the dealer if they can offer you anything better. Bankrate tip: If you qualify for , evaluate any other rebates or incentives before accepting the offer. It may seem like a better offer at first glance but you might have lower interest rates with a third-party lender that has lower fees. 8. Negotiate online If none of the price quotes you receive fall within your limit of the price at fair market and invoice, then you can utilize those two numbers to again inquire from dealers about their top rates. “It’s best to ask first what is the best price offered by the dealer. You don’t have to share any details of other negotiations or offers you’re in with another dealer, unless it’s to the advantage of your client,” DeLorenzo says. “Use these figures to determine whether the dealer could beat the other offers. If not, remember that you are in control and can take your business elsewhere.” Make sure that the price estimates are detailed in an email and remember to ask if any extra costs are included or withheld. Things like “customer service fees,” -that are negotiable and can be removed — can tack thousands on to the total cost. If a dealer offers you a price you are happy with and you want to send the quote to another dealer to receive bids from competing dealers in particular if you know exactly what each price quote includes. Bankrate tip: Never quote your monthly payment budget to a car salesperson. This allows the dealer to incorporate all the items they can in your budgeted payment, and meet your budget. Concentrate on the total cost and use it to negotiate for the car you want to purchase. 9. Take a test drive and sign the paperwork By now, you are working with the dealership which is selling the vehicle you are looking to buy and that offers you the most favorable deal. At this point, you may still have to visit the dealership to sign the purchase contract, sign any financing paperwork and pick up the keys to your car and keys. But many dealerships are also currently delivering vehicles and other paperwork directly to your doorstep which allows this final process to be completed at your house. No matter which approach you take, look over the contract thoroughly. Check all of the numbers and request explanations of any additional charges or any documentation for fees that look questionable. Set up the appointment of a technician who will check the car over, even if it’s new — and don’t complete any paperwork until you’re certain that your financing and vehicle are what you want. Bankrate’s tip: Finance and insurance managers may try to offer you additional services however, be firm in saying “no,” and only add an item to your list when there’s no other method of obtaining the product or service. The bottom line Buying an automobile online — or performing the majority of the legwork online before going to a dealer will save you time and money. Find out the current prices, look up the national and local inventory as well as compare current prices as well as prepare for negotiations. Utilizing the wealth of information accessible online to your advantage could eliminate much of the stress from getting a new car. Learn more
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Written by Contributing writer
Naomi Mannino is a contributing writer for Bankrate. Naomi write about loans and banking.
The edit was done by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor
Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since late 2021. They are dedicated to helping their readers feel confident to control their finances through providing concise, well-researched and well-researched content that break down complex topics into digestible chunks.
Auto loans editor
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