After hours of searching the web and visiting dealerships, you’ve finally found the vehicle that you are ready to make yours. But, we all know car buying isn’t as simple as saying “it’s mine” and off you go.

What can you expect the day you buy a new vehicle?

Trade-in

Out with the old and in with the new (to you) can be used to describe buying a new vehicle. When you pull up to the dealership in your current vehicle knowing that you’re ready to take home a new one, you’ll have to trade in what you currently own.

Before you get to the dealership, be sure to look at the trade-in value of your vehicle on a site like Kelley Blue Book or Auto Trader. By using one of these sites before you go to the dealership, you’ll know what a fair deal is when trading in your car.

Financing

What may take the longest at the dealership and to many is the least amount of fun is when you are financing your vehicle. If you’re able to purchase your vehicle in cash, which most people are not able to do, you’ll end up working with the financing department to zero in on your monthly payments.

Before you get to the dealership, there are a few things to know:

1. credit score

Knowing your credit score will help you predict what kind of loan you’ll qualify for when you’re at the dealership. The better your credit score, the more likely you are to be approved for loans with lower interest rates.

2. budget

While you’re at the dealership working with the finance department, keeping your monthly budget in mind will allow you to make choices about what you can afford and what your loan term should be.

Keeping your budget in mind will help you in the long run so you’re not stuck with a vehicle you realize that you cannot afford.

3. down payment

Being able to put money down when buying a vehicle will help to lower your monthly payments, meaning you’ll be able to pay off your car sooner than your loan term. If you know that a new car will be in your future, putting money away each paycheck will make it easier to save up for your next vehicle.

Accessories and Add-ons

When you’re finalizing the purchase of your vehicle, there may be accessories or add-on packages you can add to your vehicle. These can range from roof racks, to window tinting and film, to protecting your paint from being chipped, and so much more.

If these are things you’re interested in, be aware before you go to make your purchase, as these are extra costs.

Although the day can be long, at the end of it you’ll pull off the lot in a new-to-you vehicle that you can be happy driving. If you’ve had a great experience at your dealership, be sure to leave them an online review, so others that are searching for a car can have the same experience you did.