Top 10 Car Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the top 10 car buying mistakes people make when buying a car at a dealership.

Buying a car is fun and it’s very easy to get caught up in all the excitement. You drive off the lot with a big grin on your face, but then a few days later realize you overpaid for your new car because you made one of several common car buying mistakes. That’s when reality strikes and sadly find out it’s too late to do anything about it.

Table of Contents

Everyone makes car buying mistakes

Buying a car isn’t like buying a pair of jeans. You can’t return it if you don’t like it. Unless there’s actually a fault with it, the dealership has no obligation to take back that brand new truck, SUV, or sedan. (Even if it is faulty, they must be given a chance to fix it first.)

So if you find out your new ride doesn’t fit your garage or isn’t as comfortable as it seemed on the test drive, tough luck. Worse still, if you find out you overpaid or can’t afford the payments, well you’re still on the hook for that monthly sum.

How do you avoid this problem? Simple: read AutoCheatSheet.com’s list of the top 10 car buying mistakes people make and then you’ll know what to look out for. Here they are.

Must-Read Guides and Resources

How to Negotiate with Dealerships by Email – How to use the power of email to get the best price on a car.
Best Car Shopping Sites With Free Quotes – How to take advantage of online car-buying sites.
How to Buy a New Car Online – Not sure where to start? My step-by-step guide on how to buy a new car online.

1. Not taking time to research vehicles and prices

Rushing is one of the biggest car buying mistakes. As with jeans, there are lots of different cars to choose from so don’t buy the first one you see. Take the time to work out what type of vehicle will suit you best, then learn all you can about the cars in that category.

For example, pickup trucks are always very popular but is it the best vehicle for you? Would you be better off with a compact SUV? How about a hatchback or wagon? Don’t forget, there might be better deals on less fashionable vehicles.

Then dive deeper by looking at models and trims. Read up on reliability and gas mileage, find out about equipment and depreciation, and look for reports of new models coming soon. (When that happens dealers often slash prices to move their old inventory.)

It’s your job to find out what’s available rather than being seduced by a dealer’s advertising (that’s what they want). Only when you can explain what kind of vehicle you’re looking for, why you want it, and if it’s right for you. That is when you should start shopping.

Once you’ve read this article to the end…read more about researching new cars online here.

Step-by-step walkthrough on how to buy a new car | New Car Buying Cheat Sheet

Must-Read Guides and Resources

How to Buy a New Car Below Factory Invoice Price – True dealer cost and the factory invoice price are not the same… dealer cost can be much lower.
Figure a Fair Profit New Car Offer – How to calculate a fair profit new car offer.
How to Buy a New Car Online – Not sure where to start? My step-by-step guide on how to buy a new car online.

2. Falling in love with a specific model

This is a bad mistake to make, for two reasons. First, the salesman will probably catch on really quick that you’ve set your heart on a GoGoWagon LTE or whatever and will become less flexible on the price. (If you’re licking the paint off of it…he knows you’re going to buy it anyway.)

Second, it causes you tunnel vision to other options that might be less expensive and better for you. Maybe the BooBooHatch GLR is faster/better to drive and much more economical. But you’ll never know if you’ve set your heart on the GoGoWagon.

Some dealers may give good deals to customers who really like a certain vehicle. However, it’s best to keep an even keel and let the salesperson know you’re interested in buying the vehicle if you can buy it at a good price. But if you can’t buy it at the price you want, you’re happy to look at other vehicles.

Keep in mind, dealerships are not in the business to lose money on car deals, but keeping your feelings close to the vest and walking the fine line between “interested” and “overenthusiastic will generally help you get closer to ensuring the dealer breaks even or only makes a couple of hundred dollars off your deal.

Car Price Quotes

Use my recommended tools to find the best deals in your local area.

Rydeshopper
Edmunds
MotorTrend

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3. Not taking a thorough test drive

Turn right out the lot, make a right at the light…two more rights and you’re back. Surely that’s enough to tell if you like a car? Not a chance.

Most dealerships have a planned test drive route. This route normally only has right turns in it with very few lefthand turns. It’s proven while test-driving an unfamiliar vehicle. More accidents happen while turning left. Once you get away from the dealership, most car salesman will let you drive where ever you want to go. Just explain to them you would like to drive the car for more than just a few minutes to see if you really could own it.

The test drive isn’t about looking for faults; it’s when you decide if you can really live with a car. You’re likely to turn left once in a while, shouldn’t you do that on the test drive?

Once you’re about to go on the test drive, familiarize yourself with all the buttons, knobs, and controls. Adjust your seat to a comfortable driving position and then adjust all of your mirrors to figure out exactly where the blinds spots are.

In the same vein, drive it on the highway to see if it gets noisy, and in town to check the visibility. Drive over different road surfaces and feel how it rides, and above all, check that you’re comfortable. Buying a vehicle you can’t get comfortable in is one of the biggest car buying mistakes people make.

4. Negotiating down from M.S.R.P. (Sticker price)

When you buy a pair of jeans the price on the label is what you’ll pay. The same is not true for a car. The number on the window sticker is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, with the emphasis on “Suggested”. Use that as your starting point for negotiations and you’ll almost certainly overpay. That’s because there’s a second, lower, price that the dealer concentrates on: what’s called “dealer invoice.”

Dealer invoice is nominally what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car, and there can be quite a difference between the two. (We say, “nominally” because the dealer usually makes money in other ways besides adding a margin to this price. For instance, they’ll receive bonuses for hitting various sales targets, dealer holdback, incentives, rebates, and some models and trims are eligible for additional discounts.)

The best, and easiest, way of doing this is by contacting dealers for free price quotes online. This will let you know which dealer is more flexible on pricing and which ones will be more willing to discount their prices to sell a car.

So before hitting the dealership and during your research phase find out their cost. My article on New Car Dealer Cost vs. Factory Invoice can help you with that. Once you find it, you’ll want to start your negotiations from there.

Best New Car Quote Services

RydeShopper has one of the largest new car dealership networks in the world. Select the make and model you’re interested in and they will instantly search clearance pricing within your local area. Don’t forget to select as many dealers as possible to increase your chances for the greatest discounts and savings.

Find Local Car Clearance Deals >>

Edmunds is one of the oldest and best new car research and review sites on the internet. Their huge dealer network allows you to shop, research and compare millions of new cars so you can find the exact vehicle you’re looking for.

Search Edmunds New Cars >>

MotorTrend is one of the best kept secrets on the Internet. Best known for their automobile magazine, MotorTrend has a vast dealer network across the nation. Their referral service is 100% free and there’s no obligation to purchase. Pick a vehicle, select local dealers, and receive discount pricing.

Search MotorTrend Vehicles >>

CarsDirect has been in online vehicle research business since 1998 and has all the right tools to help you find your next car, truck or SUV. They offer a no-hassle experience from configuring a car to making the final purchase. You’ll find your next car quickly and easily.

See Cars Direct Pricing >>

See All Online Car Buying Tools

5. Focusing on monthly payments alone

It’s easy for a dealer to lower your monthly payment. All they need to do is extend the term of the loan or lease. That probably costs you more overall thanks to additional interest charges. Another trick is to increase the size of the down payment. Again, your monthly cost goes down, but you likely pay more overall.

All that matters is the price of the vehicle. Almost certainly, car salesmen are trained to steer you away from talking about that number but don’t let him. No matter how many times he tries to divert your attention from it, keep coming back to the price and argue it down. Only think about payment terms once you’ve agreed to a price.

Car buying tips you should know

The true cost of a new car from a dealer and the factory invoice price is not the same. The dealer’s cost is less than the invoice price.
Knowing the dealer’s costs puts you on a level playing field when it comes to negotiating the best price with the dealer.
Always negotiate up from the dealer’s cost and not from MSRP (or above) down.
Take advantage of free no-cost online services to check what vehicles are currently selling for in your local area.
Read my reviews on the top online car shopping sites: RydeShopper, Edmunds, MotorTrend, and CarsDirect.

6. Relying on the dealer for financing

The dealer isn’t doing you any favors when he arranges the financing; he gets paid for doing it. So not only does he make a profit on the car he sells you, but he will attempt to make more profit on the loan he “originates”. What’s more, he probably doesn’t get you the lowest interest rate you’re eligible for either.

Always shop around for auto financing before going car shopping. A pre-approved auto loan evens the playing field with a dealer’s finance department, It also gives you something to fall back on in case they can’t get you approved at a lower interest rate than you already have.

Credit Unions are often a low-cost source. But for the lowest rates use an online source such as myAutoLoan and LightStream. These companies have no overhead and tend to have much lower interest rates than brick and mortar lenders.

Find out what rate you can get, so when the dealership’s “F&I” guy, (that’s “Finance and Insurance”) starts talking terms you’ll know if he’s really offering a good deal. Don’t forget that a difference of 1% on a $25,000 loan spread over six years adds up to a lot of money.

Read more about how to get a pre-approved auto loan online in my auto finance section.

Recommended online auto loan sites

MyAutoloan - will shop the best loan rates for you. You submit one free, no-obligation car loan quote through their secure web site and within seconds you'll receive up to 4 loan offers from their auto lending partners. You can select the one that provides you with the most benefits and savings.
Light Stream - is a division of SunTrust Bank. They believe borrowers with good to excellent credit ratings should be rewarded with low rates and excellent loan products. Once approved with LightStream, you can negotiate like a cash buyer with the funds in your account.
Auto Credit Express - was founded June 1, 1999. They are one of the leading bad credit auto loan providers in the US and Canada. If you have bad credit, no credit or been turned down for an auto loan because of a low credit rating in the past, chances are Auto Credit Express can help.
My Free Score Now - will allow you to receive all of your personal credit reports and scores from all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) by signing up for their free trial.
View all car buying tools

7. Buying unnecessary extras

Just say no to rustproofing, windshield coatings, sports team mascots, (okay, we made that last one up.) You don’t need them. Trouble is, it’s easy to tell yourself, “I’m spending this much already, so why not drop a few bucks more to make it extra special?”

Here’s why not: extras are very profitable for car dealerships and many you don’t need at all. If you later decide it is something you want, shop around. You’ll almost certainly get it at a much better price.

Recommended Auto Warranty Sites

Complete Car Warranty - provides you with an instant quote, unlimited repairs and is accepted by all dealers and mechanics.
Endurance Vehicle Protection - offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and there’s no middleman involved.
Olive Mechanical Breakdown Insurance - offers free 60 second quotes easy monthly payments, cancel anytime, quote, and buy 100% online.
View all car buying tools

8. Rolling negative equity into the car you’re buying

This may be one of the worst car buying mistakes to make. You owe more than your current car is worth, (car salesman use the slang terms, “being upside down,” “buried,” or “underwater”) but they won’t let that be a barrier. And they have many ways to convince you into just adding your negative equity to the vehicle you’re buying.

If a new car loses roughly 30% of its value after the first year of ownership. What happens when you add $3500.00 to the vehicle when you buy it? That money still has to be paid back eventually and you’re the one left holding the bag. On a typical 5 year note, it takes about 3.5 years for you to start getting close to even.

Your dealership will just add the difference to your new loan. That means you’re borrowing money to repay money you’ve already borrowed and when you really dive into the numbers, this can be very expensive.

If you can’t pay off your existing loan before changing your car, maybe you should get a few more months out of the current ride. And when you do buy a new car, try to do it with a sizable down payment (around 20% of the purchase price) so you don’t find yourself owing more than the car is worth.

9. Not knowing the value of your trade-in

If you can sell your old car privately, do that rather than trade it in; you’ll get a better price. That said, there are good reasons for trading in. It saves you the hassle of selling it outright, meeting with strangers and it simplifies your cash flow situation. However, if you go this route start by finding out what your car is worth.

Several online car price guides will estimate a trade-in value. Print out the results and take them with you to the dealership. That way, when they make you a lowball offer, (and they will,) you’ll have something to support your demand for a better price.

Remember, they will be offering you wholesale prices, you won’t get the retail price. The dealership wants a margin between the buying and selling prices because they have to make a living. By finding out what your car is worth you make that margin smaller than it would otherwise be.

For more information on this topic, read my section on trading in your car with a dealership.

10. Not having a used car inspected

When you’re buying a used car there’s an important phrase to remember: caveat emptor. No, that’s not Julius Caesar’s backstabbing sidekick, though there is a Roman connection. It’s a Latin phrase meaning, “buyer beware.” Used cars are sold as seen. It’s up to you to understand what you’re getting for your money.

Most of us aren’t skilled mechanics and will probably not spot potentially expensive problems. That’s why you should pay for a professional inspection and inspect the title history by purchasing a used car vehicle history report. Not doing so can be a very costly car buying mistake.

Recommended vehicle history reports

AutoCheck Vehicle History Reports - will let you know if a vehicle has been reported in an accident, branded a lemon, damaged in a flood, reported repossessed or stolen, and more. Be confident in your purchase and enjoy access to benefits such as free Buyback Protection for registered, qualified vehicles.
View all car buying tools

Think before you buy a vehicle

Living with a car is very different from taking it for a quick test drive. Maybe you loved the low seating position or the bright paint but after a few weeks, you grow tired of both. Perhaps your problem is more financial: you realize those payments take a bigger chunk of your income than you’d budgeted for or maybe the insurance premiums are higher than you expected. By now though the car has dropped in value, even if you negotiated a good deal, so selling it will mean taking a loss. It’s not a good feeling.

Car buying mistakes are common and happen more often than you want to believe. Most people don’t want the embarrassment of admitting to making a mistake so they keep their mouths shut. Car dealerships make money from them while all the unfortunate buyers can do is grit their teeth and keep making the payments. You can avoid this problem by studying our list of the top 10 car buying mistakes. Once educated, you’ll be a smarter, and happier, car owner.

The number one tip for saving the most money when buying a new or used car is to always take your time and “DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!”

As always, I recommend using an online referral service such as Ryde Shopper, Edmunds, Motor Trend, and Cars Direct before physically walking into a car dealership. Their free online price quotes will automatically help level the playing field with the dealer and let you know right away which dealers are willing to be more flexible on price. Please consider them the next time you decide to buy a vehicle, they will save you a lot of money.

About the author

My name is Carlton Wolf and I have been in the retail and wholesale car business for well over 20 years. I created the Auto Cheat Sheet to better educate buyers on the deceptive sales practices found in many dealerships across the country. Please understand, not all car dealers are dishonest. However, you never know who you will be dealing with.

I’m willing to share my knowledge and experience with anyone willing to listen. Please understand that I’m a car guy, not a writer.