person buying car online

Who loves going to the dealership? Many of us have had a bad experience when stepping foot into a dealership. Car salesmen do not have the best reputation around. 

No one likes to feel pressured or followed around as you’re trying to look at your car options inside a dealership. Did you know there is another way thanks to the world wide web?

Keep reading to learn the best way to buy a new car online.

Research

Before you choose a new vehicle, you will have to go through the research phase. This is the best way to learn about your future car. You can do a quick search online for any vehicle out there to see all about the specs and options that vehicle comes with. 

If you’re looking for a commuter vehicle you can do a google search “best vehicles for a commute.” This will give you options on gas savers and the best models out there for a daily commuting vehicle.

If you want a sports car with all the bells and whistles such as a remote start for cars then you can do a search for “the best sports car of the year.” Once you yield your results you can compare and contrast the different options you are shown.

Test Drive

Once you narrow down your vehicle to one or a couple you can schedule a test drive. If you are buying from a company like Shift, you can set up a test drive to ensure that the vehicle you’re thinking of buying does meet your expectations. 

Spending time with the car in person and driving it down the road can confirm whether or not the vehicle is right for you.

If you are shopping directly on a dealership’s website then you can call the dealership directly to schedule a test drive. Keep in mind that if you test drive a vehicle at a dealership and you love it, you do not have to feel obligated to buy it there if you find a better deal online. It does not hurt to ask them if they are willing to match the deal you found.

Another way to test drive a car you’re considering buying is to rent it. Look for a local car rental company that has the car you want and rent it for a few days. This will give you a true test drive experience because you will be able to tell things like how well it does on gas, how well it drives, etc.

Nothing like driving the car for a few days to see if it truly lives up to your expectations.

Financing

The next step is to figure out how you will pay for your new car. Will you be financing it through a bank or will you be paying for it with cash? If you plan on looking for financing then getting a preapproved loan will help you during your shopping experience. This will help you know what your budget is when you are doing your searches.

It’s fairly simple to do an online search an find a bank, credit union, or any other lender to offer you a loan after you fill out an online application. Keep in mind your interest rate and approval amount will be based on your credit score, income, and debt to income ratio. Of course, this depends on the lender’s requirements but you will want to have those main things in order and in mind when filling out your applications.

Search Outside Your Area

If you want to find the best deal on your dream car it’s good to not only stick to your local area. Search outside of your area because you never know you might save thousands of dollars just for buying outside of your city limit.

Sometimes driving a few hours away to pick up a car might be worth it in the end. A good thing to research is vehicles in an area that are not as popular. For example, if you really want a convertible then search for one in an area where it’s mostly cold year-round vs searching in an area like Florida or California.  

Chances are a convertible will be more expensive in states where the weather is warmer year-round than in states where there is plenty of snow and cold weather. Another example is if you’re set on a hybrid car then search in rural dealers where hybrid cars might not be in such high demand.

If you want to save some money on your new vehicle definitely take advantage of the fact that you are not limited to searching for a car in only your area. You are open to endless places where you can buy your new dream car thanks to the internet – as long as you are willing to drive and spend a little money on gas to get there. 

Now You Know the Best Way to Buy a New Car Online

There you have it – the ultimate guide to the best way to buy a new car online. Now that you have the guidance above you can go out there and choose the best vehicle for you and your needs. Once again we have to be thankful for the internet because it has allowed us to have a more pleasant car buying experience.

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