Is there a way of finding out the best price for a car?

Determine the maximum price you would be willing to pay for the car. This should be based on the dealer's cost plus a fair profit for the dealership. Unfortunately, determining a fair profit is not an easy task. It will vary from car to car and dealership to dealership. Between two and ten percent is common. A high-demand car will command a greater profit margin than a low-demand car. It may be impossible to negotiate below list price on some very popular cars. Once you have set a maximum price you're willing to pay, do not exceed this price.

There are so many cars! How can I narrow my choices?

First of all, remember you're the one in charge. Make several trips to the dealership. Spend your first trip gathering information. Look carefully at the cars on your list. Sit in them, walk around them, test-drive them and see how they fit you. If possible, take a car for an extended test drive, one that simulates your normal use. That will tell you if the car can handle what you want it to do. Does the car have enough power? Does it ride too rough for you? Does the instrument/control layout suit your tastes? Can you see out of the car safely? Does it handle well? These are the types of questions will help you narrow down your choices.

Which car is the safest?

Since there are so many cars in the market, it's difficult to say which car is safer than another. When it comes to safety, there is no one definitive study that proves one car is safer than the other. You will need to compare different types of data to help you make a decision. This is where doing your homework is so important.

How do I protect myself when car shopping?

Do your homework. It can't be stressed enough - that an informed consumer is a protected consumer. If you walk in and buy a car without any preparation, without any knowledge about the type of car you're buying - you'll get ripped off, nine out of ten times. Research the car you're interested in. Check out its reliability, safety, cost, performance, and features. Most important of all - don't get pressured into buying a car.

My used car is a piece of junk. What can I do?

Unfortunately, not much. Most states allow for used cars to be inspected by a mechanic of your choice. You should always make use of this option - don't just take the dealer's word for it. Buy only when you're satisfied that the car is not a piece junk. Once you buy - you're stuck.

Is there a three-day "cooling off" period after I purchase a car?

No, there isn't. You cannot return a car within three days if you decide you don't like the car. You have to abide by the regulations of the sales contract that you signed. This is why it's very important to be absolutely sure about the car you want to buy - before you sign on the dotted line.

How do I negotiate with the dealer effectively?

One way is to set what you believe to be a fair price (not your maximum price) and offer this to the dealer. If he knows you're serious, he should be willing to write up the offer, assuming it's a fair price. If he's not willing, then thank him for his time and go to another dealership. The second method is horse trading. Start by offering a bare minimum over dealership cost and see what he comes back with, countering back and forth until you arrive at a mutually agreeable price. This method might result in a lower price, but it's a lot more work. It's all a matter what you feel comfortable with.

Should I buy from a dealer, or order direct from the factory?

It's a matter of preference. If you order a car, you can get one with the options and equipment that want (if they're available). But you'll have to wait delivery, which can sometimes take several months. If you buy a car from the dealer, you get your car much sooner, but you might have to buy some expensive options you don't want or need. If you have lots of time, and the options you want aren't available on the dealer's lot, then ordering the car can be a good move. If you need a car quickly, and you want the options that are already on the car, it makes more sense to buy from dealership stock.

I bought a lemon. Now what do I do?

There is something that you can do, since most states have "lemon laws" in place. In most states, the lemon law requires the dealership make four or more unsuccessful repair attempts on a vehicle for the same problem or that the vehicle be out of service for more than 30 days within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles before the vehicle is legally considered a lemon. If you believe that the car has problems, you should immediately attempt to have them repaired by the dealership. If the dealership is unsuccessful in repairing the problems, contact the manufacturer and request factory assistance. If that doesn't work, again contact the manufacturer (in writing) and request that they begin lemon law arbitration. You may need to file a lawsuit to get them to buy the car back. Unfortunately, there is no provision in the law for just giving the car back and saying "forget it." There are situations whereby you can revoke acceptance of the vehicle if it unsuitable; however, this is tricky legal ground and you can get yourself in trouble if you don't do things correctly. Before attempting to revoke acceptance of a vehicle, you should get legal assistance.

Should I buy or lease?

More often than not, buying is best. But in order to make the right decision, you will need to determine the various costs involved and the payoffs. If you're interested in leasing a car, be sure to do some calculating first. Leases are difficult to understand and you can wind up paying much more to lease the car than to buy it. Leasing usually looks attractive for one reason: low monthly payment. A lease payment may be substantially lower than a corresponding loan payment. You might benefit from leasing if: You can write off your lease payment as a business expense; You drive less than 15,000 miles per year; You prefer to trade your car in every three or four years; You want to avoid the hassle of selling your used car.