Whether you have bought a car multiple times or are looking to become a new car owner, the truth is you can use a couple tips to ensure that you’re getting the most for your money. The process is much more than just choosing your favourite car and paying for it as there are always many hidden costs and incentives that dealerships and general websites online will not let you know about.
With Car Cost Canada, the online feature of obtaining a dealer invoice price allows you to see what incentives you qualify for and the additional costs that can add up when you’re not noticing them. The program allows you to have your best foot forward in the car purchasing negotiation, saving you lots of money.
To learn more about what you should know about before buying a car, keep reading! The dealer invoice price program that Car Cost has is a part of the process:
Finance or Lease?
The big question of how your vehicle will be paid off: will you finance it or will you lease it? Depending on your financial position, it may be less of a debate and more of what you can afford. There are benefits to both, and one will cater better to you if you’re a student vs. an adult with full income.
Have a sense of the type of deposit you can put down and the amount you can afford to pay monthly. You can also look at auto loans if you’re interested in financing a car rather than leasing and require more funds.
Understand your Credit Score
Before purchasing your vehicle, your credit score is important to know. This is because the credit report and interest rates that you have available will be able to act as a leverage point, allowing you to negotiate a good deal and save money.
Shop Around
Even if you have your eye set on a specific car, model, and make, take a look around at other dealerships, similar brands, and see what other options you have. For every car you look at there, there is always a more expensive version and another affordable make. Know your options so that when it comes to negotiating, you know your budget limits.
In addition to looking at different cars, ensure you do you research regarding dealerships. Look online for bad customer reviews and those with glowing reviews so that you know you will get the best service and treatment when you walk into a dealership. Even expensive cars from a well-known reputable brand can have issues and if your dealership is one that puts their needs and sales ahead of your own, you may end up with issue-filled car.
Find a Dealer Invoice Price
This process step is something Car Cost Canada can help with. As mentioned before, these dealer invoice reports help seek out rebates and incentives that a car owner may qualify for and takes out unnecessary costs for you to understand the starting cost that the dealership works with. Obviously, certain dealerships will have a more stubborn attitude to negotiate with but for the most part, this dealer invoice report gives you leverage as you understand how much the dealer will make from this purchase.
Test Drive your Car of Choice
Once you have decided there is a certain type of car you are interested in, make sure you test drive it. Often new car owners will buy it for the look or aesthetic and neglect to see the compatibility and comfortability associated with the vehicle. Doing a test drive will ensure that you know how the functions work and that you are comfortable with the drive of the car.
Find Repair Records
Certain models and makes will have a more reputable history of doing its job. What this refers to is the amount of recalls for certain cars that have happened in the past decade. Sometimes, after an accident or a check-up, cars will have persisting issues that began when they were being built. Taking a look into the history of the car you want will give you a sense of the company and how often these problems arise.
Regardless if it is a new or used car, taking a check-up after you purchase it is a good idea to see if there are any preliminary issues that need to be fixed. Some dealerships may be hiding serious issues with a car and urging you that it is not necessary to do a checkup after your initial purchase but it is always better to be safe than to be sorry.
Conclusion
When it comes to buying a car, there are many things to be wary of. Being cautious allows you to save money and be safe on the road — key components when it comes to this heavy investment.
Are you looking to buy a new car? Take a look at our service online to get a dealer invoice report and ensure that you get all the rebates and incentives so that you can save!