Do your homework when buying a car

Used car prices are finally coming back down to earth but new car prices can feel like they are going into the stratosphere. What they have in common is high interest rates if you are financing so doing your car-buying homework is essential. After researching the make and model of the vehicle you want, you will need to decide where to make your purchase. Some car brands don’t use the traditional dealership model and negotiating is not an option; however, most manufacturers have a suggested retail price that traditional dealers use as a baseline for negotiations and will advertise specific vehicle prices based on included options and any dealer markups. If you need financing, consider securing it beforehand as dealer financing can come with higher interest rates, which will affect buying power. Read your sales and financing contracts carefully to verify the price and financing terms match those quoted and don’t include any extra fees, charges or unwanted options.

more information at marincountyda.org or 415-473-6495