Car shopping is one of the most stressful things that anyone can ever do. It's a long process and you have to ask questions, test out different models, and go through all sorts of hoops just to find the perfect car for you. In this blog post, we will discuss seven strategies that will help make your car shopping experience less stressful!
Most of us need a car to get around and make life easier, but there are few of us who enjoy the whole car buying process. It can be pretty stressful and filled with pitfalls from being pressured by a dodgy car salesman to not knowing where to start when it comes to choosing a vehicle. It doesn’t have to be that way. Below are some great tips to help you stop stressing and actually enjoy the car shopping process as you should…
Know What You Want Before You Go Into The Dealership
The easiest way to take the stress out of buying a car is to do a lot of research before you ever hit a dealership. If you know exactly what you want and need out of a car, resources like Auto Trader and Consumer Reports will help you to determine which vehicles are likely to be a good fit, so you can focus all of your attention on them and lower your stress significantly.
Work Out A Firm Budget And Stick To It
Knowing exactly how much money you have available to spend when you head off to the car dealership is going to really help you avoid the stress because you won’t be drawn in by the salesman reign to convince you to buy something affordable, and you can simply get on with the job of choosing the right car for you without having to worry about whether those monthly payments are really as affordable as he is telling you. Again, it will also allow you to narrow down your search to a smaller pool of cars which is obviously way less stressful to deal with.
Get Pre-approved For A Car Loan Before Going To The Dealership
Often the car salesperson will try to convince you that getting a loan is not necessary before going to the dealership, but it’s really important if you want to save yourself from more stress. Getting pre-approved for a vehicle loan or lease at your bank means that there won't be any pressure on price when you are negotiating with the dealer and because you already know which cars are in your budget range, it'll make the process much less stressful too.
Research Your Existing Vehicle Value
If you are going to be trading in your existing vehicle. You should spend some time online researching how much it is worth, and then determine the lowest value you would be happy to accept before you do the deal. When the dealer knows that you know your stuff in terms of used cars and their value, they are less likely to haggle you down so aggressively, which will make for a much pleasanter car buying experience, not to mention a more fruitful one.
Get A Dealership Recommendation
Instead of just heading to the nearest dealership, take the time to ask friends, neighbors, and family members for recommendations, and maybe check out online reviews. This will help you to find dealers who are fair and honest so that you don’t waste your time with salesmen who will try to con you or buying vehicles that are not up to your standard.
Look For Haggle-free Pricing Dealerships
These days, many car dealerships are operating under a haggle-free pricing policy, which means that they don’t bother pricing their vehicles artificially high knowing that their customers are likely o haggle them down to a fair price. If you can find such a dealership in your area, you will be able to save time and money by going with them, as well as having a pretty stress-free experience too.
Bring Someone With You Who Can Be Your Voice Of Reason When Making Decisions
Choosing a car can be hard, and it is very easy to let yourself get carried away when faced with the salesman’s pressure tactics. If you have someone there who is not emotionally attached to buying a new vehicle that they will enjoy taking care of for years to come; it makes things much easier because then they can say all those sensible words in response to your thoughts.
Additionally, as a third party, this person can watch your back if it appears you are getting too stressed out or if the salesperson starts saying things that just don't seem right.
Don't Be Afraid To Walk Away If You Feel Stressed Out
When you are getting a car, it's natural to feel some stress. But if the salesperson has crossed your boundaries and is making you uncomfortable in any way; then don't hesitate to walk away from them until they stop doing that. If this happens more than once, look for another dealership - there are plenty out there who will treat you with dignity while still providing good customer service.
Even if it isn't the fault of the sales person, if at any time you simply feel overwhelmed by the options or have any reluctance, stepping away from the table can help reduce your stress level. It may also have the added benefit of being interpreted as a negotiation tactic and the sales person may offer further incentives to continue the process. In this case, it is up to your trusted friend and advocate to be the voice of reason and encourage you to avoid anything you don't feel 100% comfortable with.
At the end of the day, shopping for a car isn't the same as shopping for a house or even an apartment. Cars are goods that are manufactured by the hundreds of thousands. If you walk away from something that isn't exactly right for you, don't worry. You can always come back and buy it later.
Shopping for cars should be fun, so don’t let it stress you out!
