Let me slide in for a moment…
Have you chosen a car? If not, look at the reviews on the cars you’re thinking about. Do not go into a dealership and NOT know what you want.
After you narrow down what you want, get estimates on how much car insurance will cost you. Check the tag, title and tax laws in your state.
RESEARCH THE VALUE OF THE CAR!!!! I cannot stress how important this is. Look at the Kelley Blue Book value…research how much that car is selling for in your area (example, the Mustang I was looking at was $30,000 in Maryland, it was only $17,000 in Atlanta)
Do not be afraid to bring up the value of the car! DON’T!!! Do not buy a $15,000 car for $23,000.
BE READY TO INSURE THE CAR! No dealer is going to let you drive off the lot without insurance. So I recommend going to buy the car during a weekday or Saturday when your insurance provider is available. Remember depending on the year, you can only get FULL coverage.
Financing, financing, financing. This right here is important. DO NOT LET THEM GIVE YOU A RIDICULOUS APR. Don’t let them jipp you. I knew someone who bought a Mustang with $9,000 down and STILL walked away with a 19.75% APR. Bruh. Don’t be that nigga. No matter how BAD you want that car. That’s just stupidity. If you put $9,000 down on a $22,000 car, you should owe about 13,000 with interest maybe 17/18,000 depending on credit. This person is going to pay $500/month for 7 years. That’s $42,000 for a $22,000 car. C’mon son. Don’t let that be you.
Also, if you put anything over $5,000 down, your damn car note should be NOWHERE near $300/month. No, no, no!! I had a 2007 Ford Fusion and was going to be paying $120/month with NO MONEY DOWN (I had a trade in though). Be wise about financing. Please, if you can get a car you can pay off within 2-4 years and then trade in for something better.
& I hate to say this but if you can, take a man with you. I do not know what it is about being a woman but they really will try you.