Local Car Dealers

It's a great time to buy a new vehicle, and you want to know you are getting the best price on whichever model you've had your eye on. With 2017 around the corner, dealers near you have incredible offers you won't want to miss.

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Car Dealerships Near You

Now is the time of year when dealers are eager to clear lots to make room for incoming models. This means better savings for you, and less time to wait to make your dream car a reality.

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/Safe_Driving_Practices.pdf Thinking about buying a car in 2017? Make sure you set aside some time to plan for this major purchase. After a home, a car is typically the second most expensive purchase anyone makes -- and settling on a new vehicle is not a decision to make merely over a weekend. Follow these 10 tips to make sure you buy a car you can afford and will be happy driving for years to come. Determine your budget While you may have your heart set on a specific car, you won't be able to take it home unless you can afford it. A good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 25 percent of your monthly household income for all the cars in your household. And this figure should include not only monthly car loan payments but all other vehicle costs, including fuel and car insurance. If you're not sure how a new car would fit into your monthly expenses, use Bankrate's home budget calculator to help you determine your monthly bills and necessary savings. Thanks to a large number of lease returns, a wide array of used cars that are about three years old is currently on the market, making buying a used or certified pre-owned (CPO) car more attractive than in recent years. In addition, there are more inexpensive new cars available than ever before, making your choices positively dizzying, regardless of your budget. You'll be able to get the most car for your money if you buy used, though you'll pay a higher interest rate, have a shorter warranty period and won't know the car's full history. If you lease, you might get a more upscale car for your dollars, but then you won't own the car outright and will need to be careful about the lease terms to avoid hefty penalties. A new car for the same amount of money would have fewer features, but you'll also have a full warranty and pay a lower interest rate, and often you'll get free maintenance and roadside assistance. For many, a certified pre-owned car is the ideal compromise, since these vehicles are cheaper than new cars, but they usually have some warranty left and must meet certain criteria to help ensure their reliability and condition. Narrow your choices to a few cars Start by researching the cars that have caught your eye to see if they fit your budget. Visit automaker websites and independent automotive information sites to assess the features that are important to you, and note MSRPs (manufacturer's suggested retail prices) and invoice prices. Check local inventory listings to see what is available in your area. Choose cars that would cost at least 5 percent less than your monthly budget to give yourself some room to cover operating costs, including gasoline, insurance, repairs and maintenance. Print out or electronically save web pages that have pertinent details. Don't, however, rush off to the dealership for a test drive just yet. Assess your ownership costs Using your short list of cars, determine if each would fit into your budget by estimating ownership costs. An auto research website such as Edmunds.com or Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com would provide a general overview of ownership costs for your area, but these numbers will vary depending on your personal situation. For better accuracy, do your own calculation for fuel based on the number of miles you drive annually, and obtain an auto insurance quote on the cars you are considering that would apply to the drivers in your household. Make sure you give the insurance agent the exact model, including trim level, engine and sometimes certain options, to get an accurate quote.