If you’re looking to purchase yourself a used car, here is some advice on what you need to keep in mind as you ready to get over to the dealership.

• Have a Budget

Budgeting is an important thing to do in the process of buying a car.  If you’re someone who has bad credit, then this is where you also need to see what you can safely afford every month.  Make sure you also take into consideration how much it’ll cost to maintain the car.  While it can be difficult to really know how much you’ll need, it’s safe to start setting up a buffer in your savings as a just in case should anything happen to it.  The sad truth about owning a new or used cars is that things do and will happen and that many buyers don’t consider the money they’ll need beyond the purchase price.

• Have an Idea of What You’re Looking For

Do you have a family of four?  How often are you driving?  What is your typical commute distance?  These questions are what you need to ask so you know where to narrow your car buying focus.  If you need a family car, you’re not going to be looking at smaller coupes or SUVs.  If you drive a longer distance, you’ll want one that has better gas mileage.  This is where what you want and what you need start to conflict.  We all have a dream car, but sacrifices must be made to get the best possible car for your lifestyle.

• Test Drive It

Also give your car a test drive.  Just because it looks nice on the lot doesn’t mean it feels good with your hands behind the wheel.  It might not even be a problem with the car, but it might not suit you.  The best, and really only, way to tell is to give the car a test drive.  Don’t rush it, let yourself get the feel for the car and see if it is truly the one you want.  If not, that’s when you go back to the second step on this list and see the other cars on your preferred list.

If you have bad credit or low credit and need to get a new or used vehicle, be sure to contact us at  Approved Loan Store.  Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!