If you’re planning to buy a car, there are a number of smart things that you can do ahead of time to make sure you’re making the right decisions as far as things like longevity and money go. Rational decisions are going to get you better results than emotional ones, so by having a plan in advance, you’re giving yourself the possibility of greater satisfaction with your vehicle purchase.
Five smart moves in particular that you can do before putting cash down on your next set of wheels include checking your credit, understanding what Blue Book prices are, thinking about your cheap options, knowing you basic car maintenance processes, and budgeting ahead for the hidden costs of car ownership.
Check Your Credit
Check your credit scores before you attempt to buy a car that you need a loan for. Those numbers are going to be some of the first things that a deanship is going to look at if you’re trying to get financing from them. If you know that you have low or high scores in advance of your shopping, then you’ll know what basic price tag you’ll be able to afford within the scope of your loan possibilities.
Understand the Blue Book
Before you buy a car, spend some time reading the Kelley Blue Book. This is the most official resource there is for resale value of cars. There will be two things you’re looking at in this case. First, you want to see the Blue Book value of the types of cars that you want to get at present, and second, you want to see which types of cars hold what kind of value further into their lives. If you consider a car an investment, you want to see if it holds up over time in terms of cash value.
Think About Your Cheap Options
If you buy a cheap car, you’ll save money in the long run. This has been proven time and time again. Especially if you look for scratch and dent cars, or ones with significant cosmetic damage (but not damage to safety systems), you’ll save tens of thousands of dollars in car purchases over the years.
Know Your Basic Car Maintenance Procedures
Before you buy a new vehicle, make sure that you understand the basics of maintaining it. Learn how to check the oil, the battery, the transmission fluid, etc. If you don’t know how to look for things that are obviously wrong, you might get scammed buying a new car before you even really get to drive it.
Budget For Hidden Costs Ahead of Time
And lastly, a smart move to make before you get a new vehicle is to budget for hidden costs ahead of time. These costs are things like insurance, gas, registration, and maintenance for that particular car. If you can afford these long-term costs, choose another option to buy.