Our new car buying tips are intended to give the information, so that we can make a smart deal.

After all, buying a new car is probably our second most expensive purchase after the purchase of our home.

So, let's us try to do it... and do it right !!!

Tips for First-Time Vehicle Buyers
General tips for buying a used or new vehicle:

-  Shop around! It is essential to compare prices and financing options as well as the features of the vehicle.

-  Don't rush. Take your time. Refuse to be pressured into buying a vehicle quickly.

-  Do your homework. Find out as much as you can about the vehicles you are considering. Consumer Reports' guide to purchasing a vehicle is very informative.

-  Do negotiate price and terms. Negotiate the price before you talk about any trade-in allowances. Talk trade-in only after you have negotiated a price for the vehicle you wish to buy. Don't be afraid to negotiate a fair trade-in allowance. Get more than one quote on your trade-in allowance.

-  Insist upon taking copies of all paperwork home with you to read thoroughly before you sign anything. If you do not understand terms in the paperwork, talk to someone who can help you, whether it is a friend, relative, lawyer, or the folks at the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Don't sign anything until you are certain that you understand it.

-  Make sure you get the title or the "official titling papers" at the time of purchase. The law requires this.

Tips when buying a new car:
-  Watch for special deals for first-time vehicle buyers. Some manufacturers have programs designed for you.

-  Ask about rebates, special low-interest financing arrangements and other sale incentives.

-  Know what kind of warranty the manufacturer offers on the vehicle you want to buy - read it!

-  Closely scrutinize leasing arrangements. In particular, know what kind of credit you get for your down payment. Also, some leasing arrangements so closely resemble purchase arrangements that consumers sometimes thing they are buying the vehicle when it is merely a lease.

Tips when buying a used car:
-  Go to a reputable dealer if you opt not to buy from an individual.

-  Look for the Federal Trade Commission's Buyer's Guide - it must be affixed to the vehicles. It tells you whether the vehicle is being sold "as is" or with a warranty.

-  Carefully scrutinize the terms of any warranty before you buy the vehicle.

-  "Service contracts are not warranties. Know the terms before you buy!

-  Have a trustworthy, independent mechanic inspect the vehicle before you buy it.

-  Get the name of the previous owner and call him/her. Ask questions.

-  Look at the odometer and be cautious. If the vehicle is a 1979 model and the odometer shows that the vehicle has only been driven 10,000 miles, remember "if it looks to good to be true, it probably is". The history of a vehicle can often reveal an odometer rollback.

-  Ask if the vehicle has ever been wrecked or damaged.

Important Buying Tips
-  Check to see if the car comes with a warranty and, if so, what the specific protection is that the dealer or seller will provide.

-  Ask to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic, or arrange an inspection yourself.

-  Make sure to get any promises made by the dealer or seller in writing (for example, to replace a broken tail light). Verbal promises are difficult to enforce.

-  Ask whether or not the dealer or seller offers an extended warranty or service contract. If you decide to purchase a service contract, make sure you understand what it covers and how long it will last.

-  Inquire about any prior damage to the car and about the car's repair history. Don't automatically accept the seller's response as accurate.

-  Always test drive the vehicle.

-  Remember, if you buy a car "as is" and have problems with it, you must pay for any repairs yourself.

Take Precautions! :
-  Know the reputation of the person or dealer who is selling the car.
-  Obtain the odometer mileage statement before completing the transaction.
-  Don't fool yourself. A car that is ten years old will rarely have less than 100,000 miles on the odometer.