Buying a new car is never easy and it’s never a cheap experience. For a lot of people, buying a new car is often times one of the biggest investments they ever make in their life. Below, I’m going to go over some mistakes that people commonly make when they buy a new car. These mistakes usually have a major negative impact on the person’s budget, so I highly suggest you read over these mistakes and make sure you don’t make them if you’re on the hunt for a new set of wheels.

#1. Don’t Shop Early in the Year

Most car dealerships actually get their new inventory early in the year. Therefore, they don’t really have any sales quotas they’re trying to hit. In other words, they’re going to be much more difficult to negotiate with and they won’t offer up as many incentives. If you’re on the hunt for a new car, you should certainly consider car shopping later in the year. Your best bet is around the end of summer or even in autumn. Autumn is typically when the new year models come out, so you may be able to get an excellent deal on last year’s model.

#2. Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

I know so many people that don’t even shop around. They go to a single dealership and try to negotiate with them. As a frugal person, I know that you always have to shop around for the best deal. Now, I’m not saying you should shop all over the country for a new vehicle, but I am saying that you should visit multiple dealerships in your area. That way, you’ll be able to compare vehicles and rates. Also, let the dealers know that you’re shopping around for the best prices. This will encourage them to compete for your business.

#3. Don’t Fall for the “This is a One Time Only Deal” Angle.

Remember that a dealer is going to tell you absolutely anything to get you in the seat of their vehicle. Their goal is to get you to leave with the vehicle that very same day. Therefore, they will try to trick you into believing that the deal they’re offering you is only going to be good for that day. That way, you’ll have to make a decision on the spot. It doesn’t matter what they offer you, because you should always shop around to get the absolute best deal. If they’ve offered you this deal once, you’ll definitely get offered the same deal if you end up coming back to them. Therefore, don’t even let them pressure you into making a decision that very same day.

#4. Don’t Ignore Your Trade-In.

If you have a vehicle that you plan on trading in, you should do your research and know exactly what your vehicle is worth. Do your research on Kelley Blue Book to figure out the worth of your vehicle and print out the estimates. This will give you better odds when it comes to negotiating your trade-in value at the dealership.