Choosing a car is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. For many people, it’s also a major investment that takes several years to pay off. That’s why it’s important to do your research and be smart when you go to buy a new car. Here are 5 tips on how to make smart decisions when buying a new car:

Do your research on the best car models and brands

The best way to make sure you get a great deal on a new car is to research what’s currently available in your market, then narrow down your options.

Check out sites like Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book for comprehensive info about different vehicles, including reviews, prices and features.

Determine your needs and wants

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it will be nearly impossible to find it, so determine your needs and wants.

Next, define your budget. This should include not only the actual cost of the car itself but also all other related expenses such as insurance and maintenance costs.

Next, check your credit score so that if any issues arise during negotiations with dealerships they aren’t able to use it against you unfairly.

Explore the car specs you need

It’s important to know what features are important to you when it comes to buying a car. For example, if you’re only going to use your vehicle for commuting and not much else, fuel economy may be less of a priority than safety or reliability.

However, if your work requires frequent travel with heavy equipment and tools, then looking into cargo capacity may be at the top of your list since these items take up more room than average.

Set a budget and assess future running costs

• Set a budget or upper limit. Before you begin shopping for cars, it’s important to know how much you can afford to spend. If you’re planning to finance your purchase, this will be the amount of money that lenders are willing to lend you based on the amount of income and assets that you have.

• Assess future running costs. Once you know how much money can spend on a car and its monthly payments, it’s time to assess future running costs like insurance, fuel, parking and maintenance as well as repairs—so that they don’t catch up with your budget later down the line.

It’s great if you have a good credit score before buying a car as an average auto loan interest rate by credit score is taken into consideration by companies.

As per Lantern by SoFi professionals, “Your credit score is a numerical expression of your credit history — a chronicle of the debts you carry and the payments you’ve made and missed.”

Discover the latest auto features and technologies

Once you have a general idea of what type of car you want, the next step is to start learning about the latest auto features and technologies. This will help you find the right car for your lifestyle and budget.

The following list includes some of the most popular features on today’s vehicles:

• Rearview cameras.
• Lane departure warnings that alert drivers when they stray out of their lane.
• Blind spot monitoring systems that use sensors to detect other vehicles in areas next to yours.

In conclusion, the best way to buy a car is by doing your research and being smart about it. This will save you money and time, and make sure that when you do buy a car it’s right for your needs and wants.