If you’re planning on buying a car but don’t know where to start, this post by AMSOIL: Vaughan Distributing in Jackson, WY, is for you. Keep reading for tips on doing so and get a great deal. 

What Does Your Budget Look Like?

Having a clear budget should be the first step when planning on buying a car. Crunching the numbers is essential to have a realistic idea of what you can comfortably afford and avoid overextending your monthly budget. Experts say that your transportation costs, including your car payment, maintenance, gas, and insurance, shouldn���t exceed 20% of your take-home pay. Budgeting for a car also means calculating your downpayment, the initial payment you’ll put down for your new vehicle. This payment should be at least 20% of the total cost of the car to balance out your payment plan. Payment plans usually work in 12-month increments and will dictate your monthly payments.

Buying a car also means planning what your maintenance routine will look like. If you’re unsure what products your vehicle would benefit from, call Vaughan Distributing at (307) 413-6480, and one of our oil pros will walk you through the products you could need. Once you’re ready, visit their online store to place an order.

What Kind of Car Do You Need?

Once you’re clear on your budget, it’s time to consider the car that will fulfill your needs. This is an important question to ask yourself as there is an extensive range of options on the market. It’s also helpful to be clear on what kind of vehicle you want before visiting a dealership to avoid being wrapped up in a sales pitch and getting a car that doesn’t suit your needs. Some questions to ask yourself before heading to the dealership are:

• What will be the primary use for the car?
• How many passengers will I usually drive around?
• Do I need to haul big loads?
• What safety features do I need?
• What amenities would be nice to have?

At this point, another essential question is whether you want a new car or if a used one would suit your needs and budget. A new car might be more expensive, but you can access better insurance rates and newer safety and amenity features in your vehicle. In contrast, a used car will be less costly but might be more expensive to insure and might not have some amenities.

A regular maintenance routine is a key to always having a dependable car. Keep your vehicle in good condition with excellent products like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 10W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. For advice on the best products for your car, call Vaughan Distributing at (307) 413-6480. Once you’re ready, visit AMSOIL’s online store 24/7 to place an order.

Get Good at Negotiating

Your next step is to visit the dealership. Here, a car dealer will walk you through many different car options at various price points. This is why knowing your budget and car needs is so important. Be clear on the type of vehicle you’re looking for, as dealers are skilled negotiators and can drive a hard bargain. Some tips for negotiating are doing your research, keeping your emotions in check, and negotiating each part of the deal separately. Let’s go through these a bit more in-depth.

• Do your research: As we’ve been saying, it’s essential to do your research before you visit the dealership. Tell the dealer how much you’re willing to spend and be firm about it. It’s harder to convince someone already set on a budget, so they’ll probably offer fewer add-ons that will make you spend more on features you probably don’t need.
• Keep emotions in check: If this is your first time buying a car, it’s normal to be excited, but it’s also a good idea to keep those feelings in check and remember that you can always walk away from a deal that doesn’t benefit you.  
• Negotiate separately: When at the dealership, you won’t only have to negotiate your car price but also the add-ons and financing. Negotiate all of these separately to ensure they don’t add things you don’t need onto the deal.

Most Common Financing Options

Unless you’re prepared to pay for your car upfront, you’ll probably need to look at financing options. Direct lending and dealership financing are two main ways to finance your car. Direct lending is when you ask a financial institution like a credit union or a bank for the money to buy the car. Dealership financing means that the financing you ask for goes through the dealership. At this time, it’s good to consider that depending on the length of your financing will affect your interest rate, so if possible, it’s always best to finance for a shorter period.

Have a reliable maintenance routine for better vehicle performance. Call Vaughan Distributing at (307) 413-6480 to speak to one of their oil pros or visit AMSOIL’s online store anytime to see their full range of products.