First-time Buyers - Dealership Experience
What should you expect from your first-time buying experience at the car dealership? Although the buying process might feel daunting, there’s really nothing to it. We’re here to walk you through the whole thing, so you can do everything you need to do, step by step!
Key Takeaways
- Before you head to the dealership, decide which vehicle will best fit both your budget and your lifestyle.
- Get pre-approved for a first-time car loan so you know how much you can spend overall.
- Head to the dealership to test-drive the vehicles you like, negotiate a price, and drive home in your new car!
- If you find the perfect vehicle before you get pre-approved for a loan, that’s alright, too. Our finance department will help you secure your first car loan and drive home in the vehicle you love!
Budgeting and Research
Before you begin shopping in earnest, you need to figure out what you want from your first car. How much passenger space do you need? Will you need four-wheel drive? Do you want a panoramic sunroof?
More than what you want, you need to figure out how much you can spend on your monthly payment. Can you afford a new model, or should you stick with a used vehicle? Once you have these logistics figured out, it’s time to get pre-approved for a car loan.
Get Pre-Approved
At Lafayette Ford, we offer a first-time buyer program to help you secure financing. When you have an idea of both what kind of vehicle you need and what your budget is, give us a call and we’ll help you get pre-approved for a vehicle loan. By getting pre-approved, you’ll know exactly how much you can spend as you look around for the vehicle that perfectly suits your needs!
You can also obtain financing from your bank or credit union. Many financial institutions offer special financing for first-time buyers with little to no credit. We recommend shopping around. That way, you can choose the best package for you, whether that means the lowest APR or a monthly payment that works for your budget.
At the Dealership
Once you’ve secured financing and have the perfect vehicle for your budget in mind, your experience at the dealership will be very straightforward. In fact, some might say that buying your first car at the dealership is the safest and most reliable way to purchase your first vehicle. That’s because dealerships will disclose a used vehicle’s issues to you and supply warranty coverage when you purchase a new vehicle! For a price, you can also elect to add extra warranty coverage to your new vehicle.
All of our new and used inventory is listed on our website, so you can decide which vehicles you want to test-drive before your visit. Once you arrive at the dealership, a sales associate will accompany you as you test-drive your vehicles of choice.
If you find the right vehicle for you, you can negotiate a price with the dealership sales representative. Since you’ve already gotten pre-approval for financing, it’s time to get your paperwork out and sign the necessary documents.
Do I Need Pre-Approval?
Actually, no. It’s not a requirement. You can head to your local dealership, test-drive the cars you like, and figure out financing at the dealership financing department afterward! But you may find that seeking pre-approval pays off; that way you know how much you can spend and won’t waste any time test-driving vehicles that you can’t afford.
Drive Home in Your New Car
And that’s all there is to it! Driving home from the dealership in your first car is really a simple process.