The car buying checklists we’ve created below are meant to help guide you during your car buying journey. If only buying a car was a simple and easy task … We all know it isn’t. Use the car buying checklist below to make sure you do your due diligence before spending tens of thousands of dollars.
We plan to add more checklists to this page over time. If you have a suggestion for a checklist, please let us know in the comments below. Since you are here, we think you may also be interested in these other free car buying resources:
Without further ado, let’s get into the car buying checklists.
Car buying checklist for a used car
Research
- Confirm that the seller is the owner of the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is titled in their name.
- What is the status of the title? Make sure it isn’t salvaged.
- Ask to review any service records or reconditioning work the vehicle has undergone.
- Get your hands on the CarFax.
- Call your insurance company and ask them to run the VIN to see what history they can pull on the vehicle.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection completed.
- Research the seller’s Better Business Bureau ratings.
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Negotiate
- Understand how car dealerships make money selling used cars.
- Know how car salespeople have been trained to sell you a used car.
- View market conditions for the same year, make, model, and trim.
- Know how long the seller has been trying to sell that vehicle.
- Engage in negotiations towards the end of the month if possible.
- Make sure you are negotiating on the out-the-door price of the vehicle.
- Apply any manufacturer incentives after you have agreed to the selling price of the vehicle.
- Be prepared to walk away if you cannot agree to a price.
Purchase
- Know before you go to the dealership if you plan to finance, lease, or pay cash.
- If financing, secure loan options before going to the dealership.
- Negotiate on products in the Finance & Insurance office (extended warranties, GAP insurance, etc.).
- Review the buyer’s order, and make sure nothing is wrong.
- Enjoy your new car!
Car buying checklist for a new car
Research
- Configure the car you want to purchase on the manufacturer’s website to find similar inventory in your area.
- Go on many test drives.
- Research the dealer’s Better Business Bureau ratings.
Negotiate
- Understand how car dealerships make money selling new cars.
- Know how car salespeople have been trained to sell you a new car.
- View market conditions for the same year, make, model, and trim.
- Know how long the seller has been trying to sell that vehicle.
- Confirm how long the vehicle has been on the dealer’s lot by looking at the VIN plate which contains the vehicle’s date of manufacture.
- Engage in negotiations towards the end of the month if possible.
- Make sure you are negotiating on the out-the-door price of the vehicle.
- Apply any manufacturer incentives after you have agreed to the selling price of the vehicle.
- Ask the dealer how close they are to their manufacturer incentives. Use this as leverage during your negotiations.
- Be prepared to walk away if you cannot agree to a price.
Purchase
- Know before you go to the dealership if you plan to finance, lease, or pay cash.
- If financing, secure loan options before going to the dealership.
- Know and understand the manufacturer’s warranty on the vehicle before contemplating any other extended warranty products.
- Negotiate on products in the Finance & Insurance office (extended warranties, GAP insurance, etc.).
- Review the buyer’s order, and make sure nothing is wrong.
- Enjoy your new car!
Please let us know what other car buying checklists you would like to see in the comments below. We’ll frequently update this page. Thank you!
1.) Are there incentives on used cars?
2.) Never mind negotiate on GAP, warranties, VIN etching, nitrogen filled tries etc… just refuse them!
3) what does it really cost the dealer to make a car certified pre-owned thru manufacturer? $300-500 per car?
4.) What do dealers actually spend getting a car detailed? $150-200 per car??
Thanks.
I’m going all in come January.
My plan:
A. Payed off current vehicles
B. Waited 4 months for credit to catch up with payoffs
C. Will pull credit report in December.
D. Picked vehicle “Mercedes Benz gls “
E. Used, 2017-2020
F. Low mileage cost 35-40k
G. Have backup vehicles and can walk away.
Wish me luck
I’m looking now for a 2020 F-150 XL STX 4×4 (Chicago suburbs.) Prefer V8. If I don’t find what I like or get a reasonable price, I plan on ordering a 2021 F-150. Does it make a difference (price/incentives) when I place an order ? December 2020 vs January 2021 ?
I’ve picked out a 2015 Infinity QX50. Dealer is HGreg(Miami). I would be incredibly grateful for a quick call at 305-975-5959
Can I negotiate sales price? (they say no)
Are other fees negotiable?
Sales Price: 19,998
PreDeliv; 999
Elec Reg: 399
Subtotal: 21,396
Taxes(7%) 1497.72
License: 250
Private Tag 25
Sub total: 23,168.72
Total: same