The Ultimate New Car Buying Checklist: What to Know Before You Visit a Dealership

Are you thinking of buying a new car? Before you step foot into a dealership, a little preparation can save you time, stress, and anxiety. This easy-to-follow checklist walks you through what to research, bring, and ask—so you can walk in (and out) feeling confident.

✅ Step 1: Know Your Budget

This seems like an obvious step, but we don't mean just what you think you want to spend on the vehicle. Car ownership is more than just your car payments, so make sure you take additional costs into consideration.

• Decide your total budget or monthly payment cap

• Consider insurance, fuel, and maintenance costs

• Factor in down payment and taxes/fees

  📎Pro tip: Use a car loan calculator before visiting the lot.

✅ Step 2: Research Before You Shop

With so many options available to you, it's always a good practice to narrow down what you really need. An SUV and a sedan can both get you from point A to point B, but only one of these vehicles would do really well off-roading and adventuring if needed.

• Narrow down makes and models that fit your needs (commute, family, hauling, etc.)
• Check safety ratings (NHTSA or IIHS)

• Compare fuel consumption, warranty, and trim options

  📎Pro tip: Read real owner reviews, not just dealership promos.  

✅ Step 3: Know Your Trade-In (If You Have One)

Trading in your current vehicle can save you quite a bit of money if you can maximize your trade in value with proper preparation and negotiation.

• Get estimates from sites like Carfax of Auto Trader
• Clean it and gather maintenance records
• Don’t mention your trade-in until after you negotiate the price of your new car  

✅ Step 4: Get Pre-Approved (or Pre-Qualified)

Proving that you have met the initial criteria for car ownership will help save time as you won't have to wait for financing approval and are less susceptible to high pressure sales tactics.

• Shop around for financing (banks, credit unions, online lenders)

• Getting pre-approved gives you negotiation power

  📎Pro tip: Even if you use dealership financing, pre-approval sets a baseline rate to beat.  

✅ Step 5: Gather Your Docs

Having the proper paperwork will ensure that you can shop with confidence knowing you have everything you need with you. Bring:

• Valid driver’s license
• Proof of insurance
• Pre-approval letter (if applicable)
• Trade-in documents (title or loan info)
• Recent utility bill or pay stub (some dealers require proof of residence/income) 

✅ Step 6: Ask the Right Questions

Come prepared with questions and write them down. It's easy to think that you will remember everything you meant to ask, but between test drives and negotiations things can slip through the cracks.

• What’s the out-the-door price? (Not just MSRP)
• Are there any dealer-installed add-ons or hidden fees?
• What’s included in the warranty?

• Can I see the car’s invoice price or history (even for new models)?

  📎Pro tip: Take a test drive and inspect the actual VIN-numbered car you’ll be buying.  

✅ Step 7: Don’t Feel Pressured

Car ownership is a big commitment and something you should feel excited about, not pressured into, so take your time and feel confident about the choice you make.

• You can leave and think about it
• Ask for an emailed quote

• Compare offers from other dealers

  📎Pro tip: The best deal might come the day you walk away.