New — Car Buying Guide

Never buy a car without driving it first. Treat the test drive like a real-world trial:

The Ultimate New Car Buying Guide: Drive Home Your Dream Deal

: Test the car on both city streets and highways to see how it handles stop-and-go traffic and merging. new car buying guide

: Make a list of "must-haves" (like safety tech or cargo space) versus "nice-to-haves" (like a sunroof).

: Check ratings from authoritative sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) . Never buy a car without driving it first

Negotiation is about more than just the monthly payment—it’s about the .

One of the biggest mistakes buyers make is relying solely on dealership financing. : Check ratings from authoritative sources like the

: Aim for a 20% down payment , a 3-year loan term , and keep total car expenses under 8% of your monthly income .