Choosing the Best Car To Buy: What Car is Right for Me?

Set a Clear Budget

Choosing the best car to buy doesn't necessarily mean you should be breaking the bank. Before perusing the classifieds or heading into your local dealership, make sure to sit down and calculate just how much money you have for this purchase. Getting a new or used car can be a major financial strain and buying a vehicle outright may carry too hefty of a price-tag for the average consumer. If you find that your budget is a bit more limited, you may want to explore financing options.

Getting your car through a lease or loan is a great way to find the features you require. Depending on how good your credit score is, a lease or loan can offer low monthly payments on vehicles that may be outside your "buying" price range. You can calculate these payments ahead of time using a free car loan calculator and lease calculator, like the one from GoodCar. By putting in your information and finding what you'll be paying on a monthly basis, you can establish a list of cars that right for you and fit within your budget.

Find the Best Dealership in Your Area

Finding the right car means getting it from the right place, and a good dealership can save you thousands of dollars. Search reviews online to see where other people in your area buy their cars and make a list of a few of the most highly rated dealerships. Then, visit several and peruse their lot; pay attention to how the salesmen talk to you, watching for any signs of the "hard sale" or other indicators there will be a high-pressure closing conversation. Pushy salesmen are worried about commissions and are most likely not trying to get the best car for you.

You'll also want to compare dealerships based on their prices and financing options. Certain dealers will offer features bundled into their leases or loans, while others may simply price their vehicles more affordability. Make a list of a few cars that are right for your needs and shop around to get several different quotes. Compare these quotes and pick the best priced option, then go in and see if they are willing to negotiate.

A good dealership will be willing to work with you on the price of a car if you want to attempt negotiations. While some people incorrectly believe that prices are set in stone, many dealerships want to reach a certain monthly quota and will give customers a break on cars to get them off the lot. This also works better with less than desirable cars, like those with damage or high mileage.

If You Plan to Buy Used, Explore All Your Options

Buying a used car doesn't necessarily mean you have to find a dealership. There are several ways to find a reliable vehicle that don't involve talking to a professional salesman, including:

• Online Marketplaces: Major online marketplaces like Autotrader and Carvana give used car buyers a way to search for the best car they want to buy from the comfort of their home. This saves you the hassle of driving to a dealership (or several dealerships) and filters out some of the scams that are present in the private sale market. Online marketplaces also provide photos and specs for each car they sell, making it easier to determine whether the car is right for you.
• People in Your Social Circle: It never hurts to ask a friend, and you'd be surprised how many members of your community are selling their cars. If you are a part of any social groups like a church, amateur sports league, book club, or any other shared activity, let the group know you are looking for a car. This can lead to finding those hidden gems that would be difficult to spot online and can even mean saving a huge sum of money on an older or classic car.
• Check the Newspaper: While it may seem antiquated, getting out the newspaper is still a great option for finding a used vehicle. The classified ads are still a viable way to find many items for sale, including cars, and it never hurts to take a look and see what is out there. There are also online versions of classifieds through websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. It should be said though, be careful; classified ads can be rife with scammers, and you should be extra careful when meeting up with a stranger you met online.

Get a Vehicle History Report

If you do end up finding the best car or a couple of cars that you believe would be right for you to buy, you'll want to get a vehicle history report. Getting a report for each car you check out is the best way to get a great deal and avoid being scammed. Common car-buying scams like odometer rollback and title washing can be dangerous, leaving you with a vehicle that could break down at any moment. Even worse, these cars can fail during travel, causing injury to the driver and any occupants. Luckily, a vehicle history report can show you the precise mileage of a car, its title records, and its history of accidents. That way you can determine whether the vehicle being advertised is actually right for you, or a piece of a junk car being sold by an unscrupulous dealer.

A vehicle history report includes all the information you'll need to find the true value of a car, and includes essential details like:

• Title Records
• Junk/Salvage Records
• Insurer "Total Loss" Records
• Pricing
• Sales History
• Problem Checks
• Auto Specs
• Location History
• NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
• NHTSA Recalls
• Awards and Accolades
• Manufacturer Information

The facts and figures included in these reports are essential for choosing the best car to buy and for proper negotiations. Your dealer may try to get a bit more out of a car than it's worth, and this could end up costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Even worse, if the vehicle has been in a non-disclosed accident, you could quickly be paying for significant repairs. With a vehicle history report, you can see every reported collision a car has been through, the subsequent repairs, and whether it has been declared a total loss by an insurance company.