At Spitzer Kia Mansfield, we pride ourselves on our robust inventory of high-quality new vehicles. If you’re searching for a new ride to take your Lexington commute to the next level, you’ve come to the right place! Searching for a new car should be smooth and stress-free, but sometimes it can feel intimidating. Our team is committed to making your experience a positive one, and in that spirit, we’ve compiled a guide outlining some tips on how and when to buy a new car.
When to Buy a New Car
The first thing you should do is determine whether it’s the right time for you to be buying a new car. It’s a big financial commitment, so you’ll want to carefully review your financial situation before making any decisions. If any of the following apply to you, it’s probably a good idea to start looking for a new ride:
- You find yourself on the hook for expensive repairs, and calculate that it’s more cost-effective to buy a new car rather than continually pay hefty maintenance fees.
- Your car is either old or in poor condition, and you no longer feel safe driving it around Shelby.
- Your life situation has changed since you first bought the car, and you need something that fits your new lifestyle. For example, if you’ve had children since buying your current ride, you might want to upgrade to a roomy SUV.
- You find that your car is frequently failing emissions tests, and it’s too costly to keep getting it up to snuff.
Finding Your Ideal Ride
If you’ve gone over your financial situation and determined that it’s the right time to get a new car, where do you go next? You should start by setting a strict budget. If you need help with this step, our finance center will be happy to assist you. Then, follow these steps:
- Make a list of your specific driving needs (technology, safety features, number of seats, cargo space, etc.) so you can start off with some key criteria to search for.
- Narrow your findings to three top models. Carefully research each model’s lifespan, reliability, and safety ratings. Consider taking each model out for a test drive to see how they handle on the road.
- Determine your final choice, then shop around at various dealerships to get price quotes and see who can give you the best deal. If you’re looking to save a bit of extra money, plan your search around sale weekends or holidays.
Affording a New Car
Now that you’ve found the ideal new car and the dealership to buy it at, take a closer look at your budget. Be sure to factor in not just the cost of the car, but things like monthly payments, maintenance, insurance, gas, and more. U.S. News writes that your cumulative car payments shouldn’t put your monthly debts over a third of your monthly income. Here are some other financial aspects to consider:
- New Car Sales Tax: This non-negotiable tax is added to your car loan amount.
- Interest Rate: This is another factor that will affect your monthly payments. A lower interest rate means a lower monthly payment. Your interest rate will be determined by your credit score, so be aware that you may not qualify.
- Trade-In Value: Consider trading in your current ride for your next vehicle, if you want some extra money to put towards the value of the new car. However, if you still owe money on your current vehicle at the time of trading it in, you’ll be on the hook to pay off the remaining balance as well as the balance on your new car. If you’re interested in trading in your car, you can estimate its value right from our website.
Find Your Next Ride at Spitzer Kia Mansfield!
If you have any questions about how to buy a new car, feel free to contact our office anytime! You can also stop by our dealership to talk to a member of our finance team in person. If you want to see how your next ride handles on the road, contact us to set up a test drive around Ashland. And if you’re interested in saving even more on your new car, we offer new vehicle specials updated all the time.
