Clark Howard Buying A New Car [ Ultra HD ]

Avoid saying you "love" the car or that your current vehicle is "on its last legs".

: Always line up your financing through a credit union or bank before you ever step onto a dealer's lot. This prevents the dealer from using "monthly payment talk" to hide the true cost of the loan. clark howard buying a new car

: If your car is over 150,000 miles and annual repairs exceed $3,000, it's generally time to trade it in for more predictable costs. Are you considering a specific make or model , or Report: The Average Price of a New Vehicle - Clark Howard Avoid saying you "love" the car or that

: Only buy new if you plan to keep the vehicle for at least 10 years. Because new cars depreciate so rapidly in the first few years, keeping them for a decade or more is the only way to make the math work in your favor. : If your car is over 150,000 miles

Do mention you have financing already lined up until the very end.

When talking to a salesperson, avoid revealing information that could weaken your leverage: