New Car Buying Tips, Secrets and Strategies

New Car Buying Tips That Will Save You Time, Money, and Frustration.

Helpful new car buying tips and advice that will help you save money, time, and frustration when buying a new car from a dealership.

Buying a new car should be fun and exciting, not stressful and frustrating. Next to purchasing a home, buying a new car is the second most expensive thing most people will purchase in their lifetime. My new car buying tips will help you navigate the buying process and help level the playing field when purchasing a new vehicle from a car dealership.

The average person buys a car about every three years and believes they’re experts at negotiating. Car dealers are professional players; how can you expect to win a game if you don’t know the rules?

Table of Contents

New Car Buying Cheat Sheet

Not sure where to start? My new car cheat sheet is a step-by-step guide on buying a new car from a dealership from start to finish.

How to buy a new car a step-by-step guide

Factory Invoice vs. Dealer Cost

The factory invoice price is not the dealer’s actual new car cost; sometimes, the dealer cost can be much lower.

Factory invoice is not a dealer’s true new car cost

Fair Profit Offer

Offer too much for a new car, and you will pay too much. Offer too little and get laughed out of the dealership.

How to figure a fair profit offer on a car

New Car Buyer’s Guide

Buying a new car should be fun and exciting, not stressful and frustrating. Learn how to take advantage of the internet and how dealerships work.

New Car Buyer’s Guide for 2023

How Much Cash Down?

Sometimes more is less, especially when it comes to financing charges. Whether compiled over the years vs. a down payment upfront, Be careful and always do the math.

How much money should you put down on a car?

Timing is Everything

The best time to buy a car is when dealers are most motivated to hit big sales targets. But when is the best time of the day, week, month, and year to buy a car?

When is the best time to buy a car?

Competition Equals Savings

Car selling hasn’t changed, but car buying has. Online car shopping sites can maximize your approach, sequence, and negotiation using only your computer.

Best online car shopping sites that provide free price quotes

See what your vehicle is worth before contacting a car dealership.

Negotiate By Email

Control the situation by negotiating with car dealerships by email. Comparison shop with several dealers at once from the comfort of your computer.

How to negotiate with car dealers by email

New Car Price Terms

New car price terms and phrases new-car shoppers should be familiar with and understand before buying a vehicle.

New car price terms you need to know

Calculate Dealer Holdback

Many car buyers don’t understand what dealer holdback is, how it’s used, and if it’s negotiable in the deal-making process.

How to figure dealer holdback on any new car

Limit Dealer Fees

Limit dealer fees by knowing which ones are legit and which are not. Learn how to stiff-arm these sales tactics if they come up during your new car purchase.

What new car dealer fees should you pay?

Research New Cars

Free and accessible online sources allow you to research new cars and visit multiple dealerships simultaneously. Learn how to find and use these services.

How to research new cars online

Rebates & Incentives

Cashback, rebates, and incentives can drastically lower the price of a new car. Learn how to find and use these discounts to your advantage.

All about new car rebates and incentives

How to buy a new car under factory invoice price and get a great deal.

Buying Your First Car

Buying your first car can be very exciting! But it can also be a bit overwhelming. The best car for the best price is your ultimate goal, but working with a salesperson can be intimidating.

First-time car buyer’s guide

How Price Quote Services Work

If free price quote services are free, how do they make money, where do the prices come from, and is my information safe and secure?

How new car price quote services work

Avoid Car Buying Mistakes

How to recognize and avoid the most common new car buying mistakes people make when buying a vehicle from a car dealership.

Avoid the most common car buying mistakes

Questions to Ask Yourself

Ask yourself a few questions before heading to the dealership. Answering these questions will help you from buying a vehicle you regret driving every day.

Questions to ask yourself before buying a new car

Fax Negotiating

Although negotiating with a car dealership by fax has become outdated, faxing can still be effective in getting a great deal on a new car.

How to negotiate with car dealerships by fax?