Knowing how to buy a car can be the difference between a pleasant experience and a stressful ordeal. Follow these money-saving tips along the way to maximize your savings and make sure your search is more efficient.
2. Knowing how to buy
a new car can be the
difference between a
pleasant experience
and stressful ordeal.
Follow these
money-savings tips
along the way to
maximize your savings
and make your search
more efficient.
3. 1 WHEN TO BUY A NEW CAR
According to Google Trends, people research new cars
more in the summer and less often in winter. This
makes November the best month to buy a car. Since
demand is lower, there’s more room to negotiate price.
Also consider end of month when salespeople are
against monthly quotas.
4. 2 KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY
Determine what you are willing to pay before you
enter a dealership. All the fancy options, bells and
whistles, are easier to resist if you have a firm
cap on your price. Research your target price for a
specific model to help keep your budget on track.
5. 3 WATCH FOR REBATES AND INCENTIVES
If the dealer is offering special incentives like cash
rebates or low-interest financing, take full advantage.
Newspaper and TV promotions are one way to keep
track, but online car-buying resources probably offer
the greatest convenience.
6. 4 KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE PAYING
As everyone knows, the dealer sticker price is more of a
starting point for negotiations than a set-in-stone final
price. Which is why know what others are have paid for
the same car can be such a powerful tactic.
Tools like Edmunds.com or the Regions Auto Center
powered by TrueCar can help determine wiggle room for
negotiating and saving money.
Visit the Regions Auto Center at
regions.com/personal_banking/auto_buying_service.rf
7. 5 you don’t have to do it in person
Consider corresponding and even negotiating by email
and phone to save time, money and reduces the stress
of buying a new car. It also allows you to play one dealer
against another to maximize savings.
8. 6 ask for it in writing
After negotiating a final price, ask the salesperson
to email or fax an itemized worksheet detailing
costs. Watch for items and extra costs you did not
anticipate or perhaps request.
9. 7 consider your payment options
If you plan on paying cash instead of financing, still
check out rebate offers offered for dealership financing.
You can always pay the loan off a few days or months
later, depending on early payment penalties. This could
result in substantial savings.
10. want more information? check out our business
resource center at REGIONS.COM/businessresources
This information is general in nature, is provided for educational purposes only, and should not be relied
on or interpreted as accounting, financial planning, investment, legal or tax advice. Regions neither
endorses nor guarantees this information, and encourages you to consult a professional for advice
applicable to your specific situation.