Admit it! You always wanted a car. You always fantasized about driving down to the office in your own car and observe everyone else go green with envy. You’ve sure think of hassle free travel. That first cup of coffee at home won’t remain a distant dream.

But before you start day dreaming about driving in Yukon, you will have to buy a car. There are various hassles attached with it. Following are the rookie mistakes a car buyer can make while buying a car.

1. Not doing your homework

Make sure all the specifications of the car are as per advertised by the dealer. You are not an engineer, but you surely can understand the basics. Make a note of the type and make of car you want to buy.
If it is an old car, derive all the information you can from all possible sources. Get the information about previous owners, accidents, problems and maintenance history.

2. Not checking for options

There are hundreds of dealers and thousands of cars available in the market. Obtain a quote from all of them. Compare the prices, services, add-ons and after sales services provided by each one of them. It is better to have them compete for your business. This will get you the lowest price.

3. Impulse buy

You may think you have found your dream car. You will want to land your hands on that mean machine at this instant. Maybe your dealer says it is the last piece available. But this can turn the dream into a nightmare. An excited customer is a sitting duck.

4. Undervaluing your trade in

When trading in or upgrading, you can get a good discount on the new model. Make sure you get the old model valued from the right dealer. This will stop you from losing out on some benefits.

5. Overlooking hidden costs

Every car buyer has a specified and stipulated budget. When you buy a car, there are many costs which come along with it. Taxes to be paid, interest (if you are taking a loan on the car) and maintenance costs are some of them. These costs have to be taken into account to avoid messing up the budget.

6. Failure to pre shop for financing

Once the dealer’s finance and insurance guy spots you, run from there. Failure to pre shop from a local and affordable car financer can land you in a soup. This guy will convince you to be finance by him and you will end up paying more than intended.

Buying a car is a big step in life, especially if it is a first car. Such big purchases cannot be made frequently. So the decision must be calculated and informed.