There are a lot of tools out there if you are preparing to buy a car, and fortunately you can find most of them on LotPro.com, but do you know the correct order to use them in? Do you know what steps you should take before you settle down on your next vehicle, or what car financing options you have available to you. Below are some tips to consider when preparing to buy your next vehicle.
Start with Your Credit Score
While LotPro.com makes it real easy to start searching new and used cars for sale right off the bat, you could still be wasting time by not knowing your credit score. Your credit score can easily dictate which dealers or lenders will even lend to you, not to mention at what rate. So finding out ahead of time if you have, for example, a 568 credit rating or a 729 credit rating can give you a heads up at what your options will be. Fortunately, LotPro deals with credit ratings of all strips so regardless of what your rating is, we can still help you get financed.
Set a Budget when Buying a Car
Are you going to be looking at new cars under 15000 or are you sticking strictly to what used cars are for sale? Both have their advantages, but by deciding on what you can afford ahead of time, you resist wasting time agonizing over cars you don't have the budget for or getting caught up in a potential credit problems later by getting financed for more car then you can afford. Be honest with yourself about how much car you need, that big SUV might look great, but if you just drive yourself to work a new car under 15k might be a more honest assessment. Or maybe a good used car with low miles.
Know Your Financing Options Up Front
Since you know your credit score, and how much you want to spend, maybe even a rough idea of what type of car you or your family will need, do you know where your financing is going to come from? Will it be from a bank, a credit union, or a deal though the manufactures financing arm? Lotpro offers no money down car loans but not through all dealers. Knowing the type of financing you can get and its limitations will save you time, for example if your lender does not support private purchase programs then shopping on Craigslist for used cars might be a big waste of time.
Find Your Car
Most people think this step is first, but in many cases its closer to the end. Depending on the financing options you take, you may find yourself limited to just the cars on a particular dealership, or to any car that you care to drive to buy. In either case, Lotpro's car search engine and auto financing section can help you whatever your needs may be.