Buying a Car: 5 Steps to Find the Perfect Vehicle

Before you sign on the dotted line, before you negotiate, before you even set foot at a dealership, prepare yourself for buying or leasing a new car with some careful thought and planning.

Step by step, we take a look in this article at the pre-purchase process.

What do you need?

Think practically about what you need in a car. What will you use it for? How many people will need to fit? How much do you plan on driving daily, weekly, and yearly?

Other questions:

• Do you want a manual or automatic transmission?
• Do you really need four-wheel drive? Or all-wheel drive?
• What safety features do you want?
• Do you require a lot of cargo-carrying capacity?
• Will you be doing any towing?
• Will the car easily fit in your garage or parking area?

What can you afford?

Take a close look at what you can conceivably afford for monthly payments, and a down payment. A rule of thumb is your total monthly car payments — whether you own one car or more than one — shouldn't exceed 20 percent of your monthly take-home pay.

Online financial calculators can help you estimate what your monthly payment will be based on purchase price, down payment, interest rate and length of loan. Stick to these numbers during the entire research and buying process, and you’ll be happier with your purchase.

Planning on keeping your car for a long time, or driving more than 15,000 miles per year? Buying may be more appropriate option for you. On the other hand, if you drive less and want lower initial and monthly payments, leasing may offer you a flexible alternative.

For a complete look at advantages and drawbacks of buying and leasing, visit our article on Buying vs. Leasing: A Comparison

What should you Research?

Have a specific car in mind? Use online engines, such as autotrader.com or autobytel.com, to learn about this car in its entirety. Find out about driving and safety features, mileage, and costs. Read reviews of the cars by drivers and dealers. This preliminary research can help you determine if your desired car meets your needs, and your budget.  Don’t forget to take a look at cars within the same class. At many sites you can compare cars side by side to give you a more complete picture.

What about Test Drives?

Now that you’ve done your research, call up the appropriate dealerships and set up an appointment for a test drive. This accomplishes two things – it sets up your first encounter with the actual car, and it allows you to test out the dealer.

During the test drive, experience as much as you can of your normal driving conditions. Drive in stop-and-go traffic, on the highways, and in mountains if applicable. Check for blind spots, turning ability, parking, interior controls, and trunk space. Get as acclimated to the car as possible, and envision owning it for several years.

Your test drive should one of several that you’ve planned in one day. Driving several cars in a short amount of time allows you to make a good comparison, and moving from dealership to dealership allows you to effectively audition your potential dealer. You’re looking for a responsive, understanding dealer that answers your questions with patience and doesn’t automatically go for the hard sell.

What Next?

You’ve narrowed your choice to one desirable, affordable car with a dealer you can respect. Time to negotiate financing and sign for your car.

Read more about this process in our next article, “Steps to the Final Deal.”

Learn more about other problems and opportunities presented with automobile purchasing and financing with our continuing series, including steps to leasing new cars, buying used cars, financing options, types of loans and leases, and more.