Many people don’t know where to begin when it comes to buying a car. You probably just needed to be educated in how the whole buying process works. Using the advice in the following piece will help make purchasing a car a cinch.

Absolutely refrain from paying the full asking price for any car. What the dealers list on the sticker is not what they actually think they will get. If you don’t know how to negotiate, bring a good negotiator along. Before you set foot on the lot, research the vehicle to determine what constitutes a fair price.

When you are considering buying a used car, always have your mechanic check it out first. You are not a qualified mechanic trained to spot problems or repairs, so you need to take it to a professional. Be prepared to pay $100 or so for this service, but it may end up saving you thousands.

If you are trading your car in, take it to a detail shop and have the upholstery and carpets cleaned along with a wash and wax. Doing this one thing can usually net you several hundred dollars or more in trade-in value compared to a car that isn’t clean.

A great tip for those looking to buy a used car would be to research what the resale value of the car is. Look at the Kelly Blue Book value and compare it to the condition that the vehicle is currently in to see whether or not the price is fair.

Be firm in what extras you want. Almost every salesperson is going to at least attempt to “upsell” you in an effort to get a bigger sale. Don’t let them pressure you into the next model up or features you don’t need. If they claim not to have the model you are looking for in stock, only the “better” one, ask if they can locate one at another dealer.

Look at your budget before you start shopping. You need to know what you can afford. Think about what would be an affordable monthly payment. You need to secure a loan before shopping for cars.

Demand a safety report and vehicle history report from the dealer. Any good car dealer will have these items available for any vehicle on the lot. This is information that will tell you how safe the vehicle is as well as any major accidents or work that has been needed on the car.

Don’t talk about your trade in. Only reveal this after the negotiation process is complete. If you disclose too early, the dealer can use the trade-in against you and give you a poor deal on your new car to make up for the trade-in.

The next time that you are in the market for a new or used car, just remember what you have read in this article. The entire process will go more smoothly if you keep in mind the advice from this article. Save this piece so you can use it as a reference as necessary.