In the market for a car? Read this first.

A car represents one of the most substantial purchases you are likely to make in a given year. The key to striking the best deal and getting the vehicle you need is to spend some time doing your research.

Use the advice that follows below and you will have the facts you need to make a smart decision.

• Never succumb to the salesperson's tactics by agreeing to purchase a vehicle priced beyond your budget. Many people are smooth-talked into buying sports cars because the salesman says they would look good in it. When you purchase a vehicle that is not within your budget, you can be sure that the dealership and salesperson -- not YOU -- will benefit.
• Fancy a Ford Edge, Ford Fusion or maybe a big Dodge Ram, or perhaps you’re into sports cars and want a Corvette or Carrera. Well, here’s the deal. Don’t get your heart set on a particular model of car when you are car shopping. You need to leave your options open so that you can get the best deal possible. The exact car you have decided you want may not be the best available option at the time you are ready to buy.
• Before you set foot into a dealership, do some research online. Check nearby dealership's websites and record their listed price on the vehicle you want, as well as any special deals they might be offering. Having this information at your disposal will be a valuable asset when it comes time to negotiate with a salesman.
• When buying a vehicle from a private seller, make sure a mechanic does an inspection first. When the seller says no, move on. There might be issues with the car that could be problematic and expensive to fix, all of which affects market value.
• When sitting at the bargaining table, take the time to negotiate the price of the car before talking about your trade-in. Doing this will help you get the best price on both vehicles. To do this effectively do not discuss trade-ins until after you have settled on a price of the new vehicle
• As you shop for a vehicle, make certain you find one with high safety ratings and options. It is essential to have anti-lock brakes. Your new car should also have airbags for every passenger. Safety is of the utmost importance because you will spend much time in this car.
• Research the value of your trade-in. Not only do you need to research the best price for the new car you would like to purchase, but you also need to know how much your trade-in is worth. Do your homework and find out the retail and wholesale values of your trade-in. Aim to get the retail value from the dealer
• When buying a new car, check out reviews of the vehicle on the internet before going to the dealer. If people have had bad experiences with the car you are thinking of buying, you might want to choose a different one. Most new car loans are for 6 years and you do not want to have problems with the car in that time frame.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re scouring Chevy, Dodge, Honda, Tesla, Porsche, BMW, Lamborghini or a Ford dealer ship, new car shopping is stressful simply because it involves spending such a great deal of money. Education is critical to making a wise choice, given the abundance of choices available. Review the information above as needed, and the process really can be easier than you may have ever imagined it could be.