Once you narrow the cars down, it is best to get in your mind that you won’t say yes to the first car you test drive and love. You have to give each of the cars ample opportunity to wow you. If you choose the first car, you may regret it down the road that you didn’t see what the other ones had to offer. Test drive cars with the music off. This is the best way to hear the engine and how the car accelerates and decelerates.

If you have the music on, you will miss out on being able to judge the mechanics of the car. This is especially true with a used car. Just looking under the hood is not enough. You have to drive the car and see if you hear any odd sounds. You also must try to listen as you brake. Some used cars need brakes right away.

If you have test driven several cars, you may be ready. Make a decision on the car that you want and negotiate your auto loans online. Most dealerships will ask for a down payment before they see your credit report. It’s best not to get into that until you are close to closing the deal. If you give a figure of $1000 now, you may never know that you could have paid less based on your credit score. The finance guy at the dealership will give you some things to consider such as extended warranty or other extras. Know what you are paying for. If you don’t understand it, ask questions. All of the extra items increase your car payments, so it’s good to know in the beginning.