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The Best (and Worst) Advice We’ve Heard About Buying a New Car

The moment you realize you need a new car usually brings about two reactions. The first is excitement, of course. You’ve been driving around in a hand-me-down station wagon with a busted radio for seven years now. The second is far less glamorous and a lot more overwhelming: Where do I even begin? Since we’ve already been down this road, we’re sharing the best (and worst) car-shopping advice we’ve heard in the hopes that your journey will be filled with more green lights than red, so to speak.

to do list on bed
Twenty20

Best: Map Out Your Entire Day

Getting a new car, for the most part, does not happen on a whim. It requires research (we’ll get to that), patience and a whole lot of negotiation. To maximize your time, map out your day by choosing two or three dealerships that have the vehicles you’d enjoy driving. This will eliminate any dealers you’re not interested in and, therefore, you won’t waste your time schmoozing with Gary about his family trip to Arizona.

woman searching on computer
Twenty20

Best: Do All The Research You Can Ahead Of Time

Getting a new or used car is a pretty big deal. It requires spending your hard-earned money and taking care of the vehicle for years to come. That’s why we can’t stress the research enough. Going to a dealership without any prior knowledge is like driving with a blindfold on. For a one-stop shop, turn to Chase Auto for answers on everything from getting a good deal to interest rate factors. FYI: Did you know one of the most common questions people ask is what their auto loan interest rate will be?

man and woman shaking hands
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Best: Don’t Be Afraid To Stand Up For Yourself

It’s really easy to feel intimidated or ill-equipped when you walk into a dealership. Between the unfamiliar auto jargon and trying to keep up with all the trims and features, you may feel like crawling into a shell during the first conversation. But before you do, hear us out: Find a salesperson you trust and who makes you feel validated for asking a million questions. And remember, as in any situation, if you don’t feel comfortable, thank the person for their time and tell them you need to “sleep on it.”

woman test driving car
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Best: Know The Right Time Of Year To Shop

Much like everything else you buy, cars are marked down at certain times throughout the year.If you go at the right time, you can save yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Besides the obvious holiday sales events, think about year-end sales, when most dealers are trying to get rid of their inventory. For this reason, the best month to shop is December. Additionally, when new car models are released (often in September and October), the “old” models will drop in price so the dealer can make room for the new ones. 

woman with car trouble
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Best: Be Aware Of The Possibility Of Getting A Lemon

A brand-new car shouldn’t have any issues, right? Well, yeah, you’d think so. But sometimes a new car has the same problems even after multiple trips to the mechanic. Before you go spending more money trying to fix it, consider that your shiny new purchase may be a lemon(i.e., a car that doesn’t live up to its warranty claims of being defect-free). If it happens to be sour, don’t worry. There’s a thing called the Lemon Law, which allows buyers (or lessees) to get a refund or replacement on a defective car. The more you know.

woman buying new car
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Worst: Buying A Car Is A Better Financial Decision Than Leasing

A common misconception is that it’s better to own something than owe something. Even though that might be the case with some things, it’s not always the best decision when it comes to cars.Depending on your current life situation, leasing may be a better financial option. That’s where Chase Auto comes in. This easy guide helps you figure out whether you should buy or lease. For instance, it asks you to consider how you plan to use the car: Do you drive long distances? How long do you plan to keep it? What’s your monthly cash flow? Once you answer these key questions, you’ll have a sense of which option is better for you financially.


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Operations Director, Branded Content

Rachel joined PureWow in 2016 and is the Operations Director of Branded Content where she oversees the editorial production of sponsored content campaigns. In addition to...