Top 10 Things To Know Before Buying a Car

1. Check the REAL price

Before you go anywhere, be sure to check out your prospective vehicle’s price online. Most automakers Web sites post the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) but usually without the delivery or destination fee. Find the two prices and add them together and that’s the number you should be planning on paying for your new car. That’s also the price of the car before you start adding any options or upgrades. Remember the number, you shouldn’t want to pay more than it.

SEE ALSO: Should You Buy or Lease A New Car?

Some dealerships may add a markup to the MSRP in order to line their wallets so it’s important to know the MSRP before visiting the dealer.

If you want to be better armed for negotiation, some sites online share invoice pricing of vehicles, letting you know how much the dealership pays for the vehicle. This will let you know how much wiggle room you have when it comes to fighting for a lower price.