For some people a car buying decision is taken more lightly than others because they have more disposable income. For some people every dollar matters when it comes to their expenditures. Regardless of which type of car buyer you are being prepared before visiting the car dealership is a must. There are many things to consider before hand over your hard earned cash or sign your name on the dotted line. You will have to live with your decisions for a while unless you are willing to take a substantial loss. Think it through carefully.
Car Buying Decisions and Considerations
Remember there is more to buying a car than the monthly payment. Have you thought about the following items before you do the deed? Check them over and make see you don’t end up with car buyer’s remorse.
- The price and the payment is the obvious so I don’t need to say too much here because I am sure that was your first consideration when it came to buying a car.
- Insurance is often an after thought when buying a car, but you need to know what is required and how much it will cost as compared to your old car. One example is that you have been driving and older inexpensive vehicle and you only carried liability insurance. Now you are about to buy a new car and finance your vehicle, but cars that are financed require full cover insurance which can be much more expensive. Check it out first with your insurance agent and make a car buying decision before you go to the dealership.
- Gas mileage is typically not something you look at very hard, but if you are coming out of a small 4-door sedan and replacing it with a monster truck you may be surprised how much you will be spending on gas every month. This can be a real budget buster and needs to be part of your car buying decision.
- Is the vehicle you are considering going to take care of all your transportation needs? Will you choice work for going on vacation, picking up supplies from the local lumberyard or home center if you are a do-it-yourself kind of person? A very important car buying decision.
- Will you be able to tow your boat or camper if you have one?
- Will the car you are thinking about buying fit in the garage, will it be safe where you usually park your car?
- Does the vehicle have the seating capacity that you want or need?
- Does your next vehicle require regular gas or a higher-octane fuel? Some cars (not many) require a premium gas, which can cost considerably more than regular gasoline.
There may be other car buying decisions you will have to take into consideration based on your life style and where you live and work, but these are a few that many people don’t consider until after they buy the car and then its too late.