Holiday Car Shopping Tips for the Newbie Car Buyer

Driving a brand new car is a dream come true. If you have decided that it is finally time to live in the dream then you better prepare yourself for battle. Why? Buying a new car is like going to war: bring the wrong weapons and ammo and you are sure to leave the battlefield (or in this case, the car dealership) with less money than you ever imagined.

Newbie car buyers should remember this fact: the last few weeks of the year is the best time to buy a brand new car. Besides the fact that car dealers and car salesmen are in a rush to fulfill their yearly quotas, the holiday season is the time when dealers announce their latest year-end offers.

Here are holiday car shopping tips for the newbie car buyer:

Tip #1. Determine your budget and get with the program.

Resist the urge to buy something that you really want. Instead, focus on what you actually need. Check your savings and determine your price range in buying a car. Do you currently have at least $10,000 in your account? Do you have good credit? Congratulations! You are ready to buy a new car. Only have around $5,000? Consider buying a used car instead. If you really want a new car, then leasing may be the right thing for you.

All in all, it helps to be realistic. Don't even think about buying a car that is worth $20,000 if you cannot afford it. Remember, there are equally brilliant and practical automobiles for $18,000 or less.

Tip #2. The MSRP is not even close to what you should really pay!

Nor is the invoice price, either. Here is something that you should wrap your head around: the dealer is the ONLY entity in the world that will know the real invoice price for any type of car. What this means is that first time car buyers such as YOU do not stand a chance of getting to know the invoice price.

Good thing there is the true dealer cost. The true dealer cost can be easily determined by starting with the invoice price and deducting the factory holdback. You should also deduct certain dealer incentives and rebates as well.

If you take the time to somehow study the rudiments of new car pricing, you are sure to get the car of your dreams while paying less than what other people are paying for the same car.

Do not let the holiday rush get inside your head. Come up with a budget, choose a car that is within your price range, and simply calculate the true dealer cost.

With a bevy of information such as that, it is easy to win the war against the car dealer.