Having a car is one of the biggest material investments of your life. Depending on how you handle it, it’s also one of those assets that can either bring you a great deal of joy and satisfaction, or nuisance. The decision you make on the day you buy a car will have an effect on the money in your pocket long after you drive it home for the first time.

Before making that big purchase, there are a few things you should consider before taking one step into a dealership. Always do your research and make sure your credit information is accurate to get the best offered price. Once you've done that, you are armed and dangerous and ready to purchase some hot wheels.

Do Your Research

When purchasing a vehicle be sure to do extensive research. Start by checking out in CompetingCarPrices.com, ask for a free no obligation new car price quote and have access to secret information. Know which (local car dealers – local car dealers article) are willing and ready to give you their best price quote. This will tell you that you are getting the best buy for your hard-earned money. Nowadays because of slow-moving auto sales, manufacturers are offering larger than usual consumer rebates and secret factory dealer cash incentives to unload cars. Research and asking for a free price quote from CompetingCarPrices.com also enables you to find (new car invoice prices – new car invoice prices article) of the autos you´re interested in, which you can then bring to a particular dealer. Often, a dealer will match that price.

Get Your Credit Together

The higher the score, the lower the interest rate you´ll have. Having a higher credit score (720-850) ends up saving you money with anything you purchase, including vehicles. Before you think about buying a car, get a copy of your credit report. Even though car dealers are able to pull up your credit score while at the dealership, you want to be armed with that information beforehand. Let's face it, salespeople want to sell cars for the highest price possible and may not be as forthcoming with your information. Knowing your credit score eliminates low-score exaggerations by the dealer. Also, some of those blemishes on your credit report can be removed before even applying for a car loan.

Purchase During Buyer Peak Times

Make sure it's the best time to buy a car. One of the best times is the end of December because everyone is out buying Christmas gifts and not vehicles. This motivates the dealers to offer rebates and slash prices for those few customers looking to purchase. Another great time is July through October. This is when dealers sell cars at lower prices to make room for the new models.