As I drove my first car I was lucky that it functioned properly and lasted as long as it did since I didn’t pay much for it. There’s a lot of value in having a checklist of the things you are looking for in a car. Let’s find out what things are best to do when test driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
1. Go to the Internet Before your Test Drive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/beverage-3157395_1280.jpg\" "\\"beverage-3157395_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIn the past, you may have had to go to several dealers before getting the deal you wanted. Each dealership is willing to sell cars for discounts depending on inventory and a host of other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But… they always need to make money and will try to set you up<\/strong> with a deal<\/strong> that helps both you and them. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSome dealers are open and honest from the start and others will try to nickle and dime you for as much as they can. It’s important to make a decision beforehand about what you want and are willing to accept both financially and with the type of salesperson and dealership you’re willing to deal with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now we can go online<\/strong> and find fair prices<\/strong> for what a car should cost and then go to a dealership or private party and negotiate from there. If you go on the main car company website, it may have deals that are not readily shown at the dealership that you may still be able to get if you ask. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are some websites to use when looking for a fair car price<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- KBB.COM<\/a><\/li>
- EDMUNDS.COM<\/a><\/li>
- CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here are some websites where you can compare car prices<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- TRUECAR.COM<\/a><\/li>
- CARS.COM<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here are some websites where you can compare used car prices<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- SHIFT.COM<\/a><\/li>
- FAIR.COM<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
On the internet, you can look up common issues<\/strong> with the type of car your looking to buy, and be sure to inspect used cars and ask about these issues during the test drive if it is pertinent. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA little research, planning, and patience<\/strong> can be very helpful. Once you go to the dealership to buy a car, you should have already made the decision about what exactly you want and need in a car and what financial terms are available that you qualify for. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTalking on the phone<\/strong> to ask questions is a good idea before going to a dealership as well. You can clarify any questions and not have to wait for a long period, as some dealerships like to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Check your Credit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"credit-card\"](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/credit-card-1369111_1280.png\" "\\"credit-card-1369111_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThis applies more when going to a dealership than a private party. We want to have a good credit score. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most lenders will use a FICO score<\/strong> to check your credit and decide how much to lend. FICO<\/strong> stands for Fair Isaac Corporation and they gave a way to check your credit score based on all your credit transactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBefore you test drive you may want to check your credit when you are going to a dealership. You can use this as a bargaining chip if you are trying to get the best deal. If you have good credit you may be able to lower your monthly payments and get a lower interest rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing you’ll want to ensure you decide before any type of purchase is what you want the financial terms to be. If you have good credit, you’ll likely be able to purchase a car on your terms, rather than theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are ways to get a free credit report for yourself before you visit a dealership. Be aware that each website has its terms, so read carefully just to be sure. When you go to Google just type in Free credit report to get a list of some websites that offer free reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you go to the dealership and are ready to buy a car they will check your credit. Companies like Experian and Equifax <\/strong>analyze your credit data and can report your scores to lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe dealership will ask a credit reporting company for your credit score to determine what your score is and help them determine your financing options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each credit reporting company may have a slightly different score, but they are usually fairly close. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nYou might think about raising your credit score<\/strong> a year before you buy a vehicle by starting to keep good credit habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMake sure you pay on time, don’t max out your card, and use your card often to build up some history.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/credit-report.jpg\" "\\"credit")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nFor a better credit score, consider the following:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n- Your payment history<\/strong>. Have you paid on time? A good way to increase credit score.<\/li>
- How long you’ve had credit?<\/strong> Have you continued to use revolving credit for long periods?<\/li>
- If you are getting new credit cards or lines of credit<\/strong>. Getting new cards can lower your score.<\/li>
- How much do you borrow?<\/strong> Are you borrowing the max on your credit cards?<\/li>
- Credit from different places<\/strong>. Are you able to pay all that you owe from a variety of lenders?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Check your Savings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"checking](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/account-4010846_1280.jpg\" "\\"account-4010846_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIf you have cash in the bank to cover the cost of the car, it may be to your advantage to pay for part of all of your car costs by purchasing it outright. It’s also important to keep 3 or more months of monthly expenses in the bank<\/strong> for rainy days. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis usually doesn’t happen for most people because money is tight, but if you have savings in the bank with 3 months’ expenses to spare, it’s a good idea to at least put a down payment on the car<\/strong>, so your monthly payments and overall payments will be lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHaving savings in the bank for a rainy day is also important when financing a car. Your total loans should be about 1\/3 of your income<\/strong> or less. Some people like to go up to half their income going to loans, such as cars and houses, but that can get out of control for people quickly if there happen to be any extra expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou want to be able to pay your bills if difficult circumstances come up. For some, getting their car taken away because they can’t pay their bills has a dramatic impact on their life. Plan for what you’ll do beforehand if funds get low or for the possibility of not having a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n4. Test Drive a Friends Car First<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"test](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/driving-407181_1280.jpg\" "\\"driving-407181_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhen you’re getting ideas of what you’re looking for in a car you may have made a checklist of what you want. A checklist is great to have, as well as some first-hand experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ve driven cars before and you’re familiar with what your needs are, but if you haven’t driven a different car<\/strong> for a while, you may need the experience of driving a friend’s car before going on a test drive to buy a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis will help you recognize things you like and don’t like<\/strong>, and bring up questions that you hadn’t thought of<\/strong> before. You’ll be better prepared for the real test drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis way you’ll feel more confident<\/strong> in your preferences and be more prepared to gather all the information you need from your test drive. It will be a more constructive experience, rather than one that leaves you with more questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5. Use a Checklist During the Test Drive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"check](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/terminal-board-3378232_1280.png\" "\\"terminal-board-3378232_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe first car I purchased was a large 2-door Ford Elite. I gave very little thought about what I should look for, except that it should run well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using a list to check off what your expectations are and write down what you didn’t expect will allow you the space to make an informed decision instead of an impulse buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can get a lot of valuable information during your test drive that can be used when comparing cars or making a decision. If you are careful, you’ll be able to get the car you want and one that meets your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a good idea to have a checklist with you<\/strong> before you go on your test drive so you can remember the things that are most important to you and not get too emotionally involved before you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIn the past, you may have had to go to several dealers before getting the deal you wanted. Each dealership is willing to sell cars for discounts depending on inventory and a host of other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But… they always need to make money and will try to set you up<\/strong> with a deal<\/strong> that helps both you and them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dealers are open and honest from the start and others will try to nickle and dime you for as much as they can. It’s important to make a decision beforehand about what you want and are willing to accept both financially and with the type of salesperson and dealership you’re willing to deal with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now we can go online<\/strong> and find fair prices<\/strong> for what a car should cost and then go to a dealership or private party and negotiate from there. If you go on the main car company website, it may have deals that are not readily shown at the dealership that you may still be able to get if you ask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the internet, you can look up common issues<\/strong> with the type of car your looking to buy, and be sure to inspect used cars and ask about these issues during the test drive if it is pertinent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A little research, planning, and patience<\/strong> can be very helpful. Once you go to the dealership to buy a car, you should have already made the decision about what exactly you want and need in a car and what financial terms are available that you qualify for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Talking on the phone<\/strong> to ask questions is a good idea before going to a dealership as well. You can clarify any questions and not have to wait for a long period, as some dealerships like to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This applies more when going to a dealership than a private party. We want to have a good credit score. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most lenders will use a FICO score<\/strong> to check your credit and decide how much to lend. FICO<\/strong> stands for Fair Isaac Corporation and they gave a way to check your credit score based on all your credit transactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you test drive you may want to check your credit when you are going to a dealership. You can use this as a bargaining chip if you are trying to get the best deal. If you have good credit you may be able to lower your monthly payments and get a lower interest rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing you’ll want to ensure you decide before any type of purchase is what you want the financial terms to be. If you have good credit, you’ll likely be able to purchase a car on your terms, rather than theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are ways to get a free credit report for yourself before you visit a dealership. Be aware that each website has its terms, so read carefully just to be sure. When you go to Google just type in Free credit report to get a list of some websites that offer free reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you go to the dealership and are ready to buy a car they will check your credit. Companies like Experian and Equifax <\/strong>analyze your credit data and can report your scores to lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dealership will ask a credit reporting company for your credit score to determine what your score is and help them determine your financing options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each credit reporting company may have a slightly different score, but they are usually fairly close. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might think about raising your credit score<\/strong> a year before you buy a vehicle by starting to keep good credit habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure you pay on time, don’t max out your card, and use your card often to build up some history.<\/p>\n\n\n If you have cash in the bank to cover the cost of the car, it may be to your advantage to pay for part of all of your car costs by purchasing it outright. It’s also important to keep 3 or more months of monthly expenses in the bank<\/strong> for rainy days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This usually doesn’t happen for most people because money is tight, but if you have savings in the bank with 3 months’ expenses to spare, it’s a good idea to at least put a down payment on the car<\/strong>, so your monthly payments and overall payments will be lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having savings in the bank for a rainy day is also important when financing a car. Your total loans should be about 1\/3 of your income<\/strong> or less. Some people like to go up to half their income going to loans, such as cars and houses, but that can get out of control for people quickly if there happen to be any extra expenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You want to be able to pay your bills if difficult circumstances come up. For some, getting their car taken away because they can’t pay their bills has a dramatic impact on their life. Plan for what you’ll do beforehand if funds get low or for the possibility of not having a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you’re getting ideas of what you’re looking for in a car you may have made a checklist of what you want. A checklist is great to have, as well as some first-hand experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ve driven cars before and you’re familiar with what your needs are, but if you haven’t driven a different car<\/strong> for a while, you may need the experience of driving a friend’s car before going on a test drive to buy a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This will help you recognize things you like and don’t like<\/strong>, and bring up questions that you hadn’t thought of<\/strong> before. You’ll be better prepared for the real test drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This way you’ll feel more confident<\/strong> in your preferences and be more prepared to gather all the information you need from your test drive. It will be a more constructive experience, rather than one that leaves you with more questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first car I purchased was a large 2-door Ford Elite. I gave very little thought about what I should look for, except that it should run well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a list to check off what your expectations are and write down what you didn’t expect will allow you the space to make an informed decision instead of an impulse buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get a lot of valuable information during your test drive that can be used when comparing cars or making a decision. If you are careful, you’ll be able to get the car you want and one that meets your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s a good idea to have a checklist with you<\/strong> before you go on your test drive so you can remember the things that are most important to you and not get too emotionally involved before you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are some websites to use when looking for a fair car price<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are some websites where you can compare car prices<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here are some websites where you can compare used car prices<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Check your Credit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n <\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nFor a better credit score, consider the following:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Check your Savings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n4. Test Drive a Friends Car First<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5. Use a Checklist During the Test Drive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
![\"road\"](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/asphalt-157687_1280.png.webp "\\"asphalt-157687_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/car-3189771_1280.jpg\" "\\"car-3189771_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/drivinglife.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/girl-2786277_1280.jpg\" "\\"girl-2786277_1280\\"")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n