5 Car Buying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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Pop culture portrays buying a car as a simple transaction. Almost any dealership commercial shows a buyer entering the lot, finding the car of their dreams, and shaking their dealer’s hand with joy. Signed, sealed, delivered, no problems in sight. We may wish this was an accurate depiction of the car buying experience, but there is a lot more to buying a car than what you see on the silver screen. Getting the right car for you and avoiding major pitfalls common to this task will get you closer to a car that will meet all of your criteria and offer you greater reliability. Here are a few car buying mistakes you should avoid when looking for your next car.

1. Letting Emotions Affect Your Decision

Sure, buying a car is a big deal. It’s several thousands of dollars worth of materials to get from point A to point B; however, problems arise when you let emotions rule your car-buying choice. Finding the right car for you is important, but forego the drama and instead focus on making a rational and financially sound decision. Your visions of pulling up to a red carpet (or into your driveway) in a mini-sports car won’t seem as exciting when you can’t even afford a movie date with the cute next door neighbor. Instead, choose a reliable, affordable vehicle. It will be no time before you are ready to trade-in and (if you played your cards right) upgrade.

2. Downgrading the Down Payment

More often than not, buyers tend to focus on the right now and opt to save money on a down payment to absorb most of the car balance into their month-to-month payments. This game plan, while seemingly saving you money, will cost you more in the long-term. If you have the money to put down on a car today, do it. Make no mistake that the money is better put down up-front than increased in the future through interest rates. An added bonus, the larger the down payment, the closer you will be to claiming full ownership of your car. A larger down payment will also decrease your payment amount, giving you more monthly cash.

3. Saying ‘No’ to a Test-Drive

Why would you turn down a test-drive? Sure, it isn’t a Porsche, but zooming around in your vehicle of choice is never something you should give up. Try not to scare your car sales rep by seeing how fast that baby can really go (hey, it is a test drive and that is a valid experiment). On a serious note, test drives are a solid way to feel the drive of your car, see how smooth the ride is, test how tight or loose the steering will is, and see how comfortable you are in the car. All of these factors will give you better confidence in your decision.

4. Forgetting Your Vehicle Has a Past

The great thing about new cars is that they have a clean bill of health; however, if you choose a used vehicle, you cannot confirm that your car hasn’t been in a nasty pile-up or been hit by a rogue shopping cart without digging into its past. You should always ask for documentation on any repairs or damages to a used vehicle. Any possible issues with the engine and transmission should also be assessed, as these types of repairs are costly.

5. Avoid the Enticing Upgrades

You walked into the dealership a simple buyer with simple needs, but if you aren’t ready, you could become a car feature diva as quickly as the dealer can say ‘heated seats’. Knowing what you will be able to live without and what you truly need in a car will help you avoid this trap and stick to your budget. As an added bonus, if you don’t have leather seats you won’t need those seat warmers.

Next time you are in the market for a car, heed these warnings. Your car decision will definitely affect your financial life and accessibility in the future. Do your homework and make a sound investment.

About Post Author

Jessica Snow

Jessica Snow is a young writer from sunny Florida who enjoys learning and writing about a myriad of topics. When shes not glued to her laptop you can find her running the trails with her Great Dane, Charlie.

jesssnow86@gmail.com