There are a number of pitfalls a buyer can trip into when purchasing a vehicle. Many of these mistakes can be avoided by simply arming yourself with knowledge. We are not suggesting that every dealer out there is attempting to rip you off, nor are you trying to pull one over on them. Their job is to up-sell and move product to customers. A sound understanding of the processes they are working from and the options you have available can potentially save you thousands.

Many consumers and dealers will focus on the monthly payments. A common method is to suggest such additions as electronics or leather seats for “only another $40 a month”. That $40 a month does not look like much in that context, but it can add thousands to the total of the vehicle. Stay focused on the total price of the vehicle as opposed to the monthly payments.

No car buyer should walk onto a dealer’s lot without researching financing options ahead of time. Many places will provide in-house financing that is generally backed by another financial institution. They make the loan out and get reimbursed. Their interest rates may not be the best available specifically for you. Head over to your bank and find out what kind of loan you can get with your specific credit rating. Armed with that knowledge, you will be able to choose a means of financing that is best for you, not the dealer.

Quite a few consumers dread the negotiating process that comes along with buying a car. Though there are dealerships that offer a fair sticker price to help remove this obstacle, there are others continuing with the traditional method. If you walk onto the lot with no preparation you will only have the sticker price to work from. Instead, familiarize yourself with the vehicle’s other financial information.

Look up information such as the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and the invoice price. The invoice price will be how much the dealer actually paid for each vehicle. Direct-to-dealer incentives, dealer holdbacks (a percentage refunded to the dealer on the invoice price), and consumer rebates can all affect what you have to work with.

The end goal of using that information should be to get yourself a great deal while still allowing the dealer a decent profit on the sale of the vehicle. Operating with the understanding that the dealer needs to profit to stay afloat will allow you to negotiate without the dealer digging their heels in.

Many people have unique and even sentimental relationships with their car; they often name them, pamper them, and we all place trust in our cars that it will get us to our desired destination. So, it should come as little surprise that many vehicle owners have trouble realizing when it is time to put their car in the garage for good or trade up to a newer model. While the truth may be difficult to face, there comes a time in every car owner’s life when they must part ways with their beloved older car and replace it with something newer and more reliable.

If your car is older than 12-14 years, it may be time to start considering buying a newer model vehicle. There are of course exceptions to this rule, like if you own a completely reconditioned 1969 Pontiac GTO. In essence, if you have a classic car or one that has been immaculately reconditioned that is not a daily driver then having an older car is fine, however, if you have a 1995 Honda Civic hatchback with the original engine and clutch then getting a new vehicle should be a top priority.

Repairing older cars can often be a waste of money. Unless you are a mechanic yourself and do not mind spending the time to frequently work on an older car, a trip to a certified technician can easily cost more than your old clunker is worth. This is especially true if your car needs engine, transmission, or electrical work; all of which can be costly to repair.

While older, high mileage automobiles can be unreliable and costly because of numerous repairs, they also cause much more pollution than newer cars. There were much fewer pollution and emission regulations when older cars were built and anything older than 1996 likely produces much more pollution and smog than anything on the market in the last decade.

Before older model cars have major mechanical issues there is often a “silence before the storm”. What this means that if the only time your car has been to a mechanic lately is to get an oil change and everything seems to be working fine, a major problem could be lurking in the shadows. Many drivers are lulled to sleep when their older car does well for a lengthy period of time and the owner may believe that their car is different from all the rest and it was well taken care of so major issues will not affect their car. The fact is that all cars will have mechanical issues if they are driven long enough.

Avoiding an annoying breakdown or costly repairs is possible if you can see the warning signs and retire your older model car in favor of a newer one. So, if you are the proud owner of an older model car and you believe that your vehicle will not have mechanical problems, then please do not be too proud to ask for a ride when your trusty old car bites the dust.