Tips to Make Car Buying Easier

We at Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Little Rock, AR know just how stressful it can be as it’s a big decision to buy a new car, whether it’s your first or eighth time. We want to take the stress out of the whole process and we’ve got a few tips on how to make it easier.

Set your budget.

Look at your expenses and set a max budget for what you can afford in a monthly payment if you plan on financing. Then factor in all the other expenses that go into maintaining a vehicle — gas, regular maintenance, insurance, etc.

Are you buying new, certified pre-owned or used?

There are pros and cons for each, but you should decide what the most important things are that you need in a car. More on that later. Owning a brand new car is the best, but a pre-owned vehicle is usually better for the budget, depending on the car. If you’re going the certified pre-owned route, you’ll likely have a better warranty and other perks that used vehicles don’t have.

Do as much research as you can.

Websites like Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com, YouTube and tons of others, in addition to ours, make it easy to learn about any car you’re interested in. There’s tons of information out there, you just have to narrow down your search.

Know your wants from your needs.

Is a panoramic sunroof a necessity or a want? What about heated seats? Once you’ve set your budget and have your eye on one or a few vehicles, figure out which features you can live without and which ones you absolutely can’t.

Reach out to us with any questions.

Even with the wealth of information online, sometimes it’s still nice to talk to a real person. If you have any questions, fill out our contact form and one of our skilled salespeople will chat online, text, email or call with answers.

Take as many test drives as you need.

Set up an appointment with someone in our sales department or walk in and take a test drive of the vehicle(s) you’re interested in. It’s better to know before you sign the papers if the car doesn’t handle like you’d hoped. We are more than happy to let you take as many test drives or drive as many vehicles as you need in order to make a decision.

Be honest.

Disappointed with the amount of cargo space? Not loving the size of the touchscreen? Let your salesperson know and he or she will help find something else. It doesn’t matter if we have to start the process all over again, we’re here to make sure you find the vehicle that fits your needs, wants and budget.

Follow up with us after the sale.

If you have any questions or concerns about your new vehicle, don’t hesitate to reach out to us after your purchase is complete. In many cases, our sales team will do this before you get a chance to. We’re here for you every step of the way.

View our new and used inventory and give us a shout when you’re ready. We can’t wait to provide you with a fun and easy car-buying experience!