So, you’re in the market for a new car. Congratulations! Buying a car is a major milestone, and there are a lot of things to consider before making your decision. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of buying a new car, from initial research to test drives to final negotiations. We’ll also offer some tips to help you get the best deal on your new ride.

Set your budget

First, you need to determine how much you can afford to spend on a car. Keep in mind that the price of your vehicle is just one part of the equation; don’t forget about insurance and taxes as well as maintenance and repairs – especially if you’re not trading in your old car.

Once you’ve decided on a car, it’s also important to ask yourself whether you’re financing or paying for your new ride in full. Most experts recommend financing if your credit score is 620 or above; otherwise, it makes more sense to pay with cash.

Find the right make & model

Now that you’ve set your budget, it’s time to start shopping. Your first step should be narrowing down the make and model of car you want to buy. Start with the basics: What fits your budget? What’s practical for your lifestyle? Once you’ve answered those questions, you can start researching specific models.

While some car shoppers like to narrow their choices by deciding which features are most important to them (i.e., leather seats, high safety ratings, good gas mileage), it may be more helpful to start with a list of models that fit your budget and needs, then consider the pros and cons of each.

Do some research before buying

In order to become an informed car buyer, you have to do some research. There are some great sites like Divicars.ai that use artificial intelligence to help find the right car for you. How cool is that?!

You will need to do some specific research for your area. For example, you can see how much it costs to insure a car in your location. Once you know the pricing details and the cost of ownership, you should be able to narrow down your choices.

Give it a test drive!

Before you sign on the dotted line, it’s crucial to take your car for a test drive. This is where most car shopping goes wrong: Shoppers spend hours poring over specs and features without ever getting behind the wheel of their potential purchase.

You can’t be sure that you’ll like the way the car drives unless you go out for a test drive. You need to make sure that everything fits into your budget and that the car you like is comfortable for you.

Negotiate!

Once you decide on the car that’s right for you, it’s time to negotiate. Before you enter negotiations with a salesperson, know your budget and what kind of deal is best for your financial situation.

For example, if you’ve found the exact vehicle you want at a specific dealer and it fits into your budget, then you don’t really need to negotiate. You should be able to buy the car at the listed price. However, if you find a car that’s not your first choice but it falls within your budget, then you can negotiate with the salesperson.