We are faced with new experiences in life. There are some that we can be thrown into and figure things out and there are some that we should have some sort of background in before we jump in headfirst. When you look at your longtime, not-so-reliable clunker and decide it's time for something new, you'll be eager to get out and go car shopping for those things in life we ​​should learn something about before we bite the bullet and dive in. It won't hurt to carry your clunker around a little longer while you shop around. Don't get me wrong, buying on a whim has been done by plenty of people, but chances are you'll drive away in your new car and feel caught off guard and dissatisfied with your new ride. If you really want to come out of this experience with a car that is perfect for your needs, there are a few things you need to consider. The first thing you should consider is your budget. You should have something saved to make a down payment on the vehicle. This helps reduce the amount you will have to pay in interest. If you can save up for the entire car you decide on, by all means do so. Sometimes our old junk just can't hold up that long and buying the car in full is completely out of the question. If so you should contact your bank. When you get there, you should sit down with a financial advisor of some kind and have them explain their fees, policies, and what you are entitled to based on your current income, your down payment, and your past credit history. Make sure you get it in writing and bring it with you when you go shopping for your new car. This will help you compare the interest rates and fees given to you by the dealer,...... middle of paper... and the radio turned on to the infamous Ain't That America by John Mellencamp. But first you have to sign the documents. You need to make sure you read the fine print here and make sure you read every word before signing. You should know if there is a warranty, when it expires, and what the warranty entails. You should know your payments and your interest rate along with when you will need to make your first payment. Don't let your seller rush you into signing documents without reading them. You never know what you might sign. When it comes time to buy a new car, don't go into it without prior knowledge. Find the perfect car for you by following the steps and ending up with a car that you're happy to show off but can still afford to drive because your payments aren't through the roof. It may not seem like a boring task, but a lot can go wrong if you're not careful.