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So you’ve decided to buy a car. Great! After all, you need reliable transportation to get around town, to drive to work, and to drive the kids around. But now that the decision has been made, you have work to do before you step on the doorstep of a car dealership.

Shelton Used Cars offers the best used cars and automotive parts in Woodlawn, which is near Mount Vernon. We have been in business for over 40 years and have served our community with automotive parts and used cars faithfully. We love seeing people find the car of their dreams, which is why we offer in-house financing so that you will know sooner if you qualify for financing. Below, we’ll go over the steps to take before you buy a new or used car. Stop by today to see our used car inventory!

STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE YOU BUY A CAR

Determine Your Wants

Before you can begin to look at new or used vehicles, it’s important for you to determine your needs and your wants in a vehicle. Start by asking yourself some questions:

• What is the primary purpose of the vehicle?
• How many people will you be transporting on a regular basis?
• Do you need a pickup truck?
• Is fuel efficiency important, i.e. is this a commuter car?
• What safety features are you looking for?
• What bells and whistles (heated seats, backup camera, remote start, etc) do you want?
• Do you want a new or used car?
• Do you want leather or cloth?

Shelton Used Cars notes that too many people just show up on the lot of a car dealership and end up being talked into a car that really doesn’t meet their needs. This only leads to wasted money and time as you will most likely sell that car or trade it in sooner than you otherwise would have. These are just some of the questions we recommend that you ask yourself before beginning to look at new or used cars.

Do Your Research

Now that you have a good idea of what you are looking for in a new or used car, it’s time to do your research on vehicles. The internet these days makes it super easy to research vehicles. You can read up on all the specs, read reviews from real people, and read professional reviews such as those offered by Consumer Reports who have tested cars’ safety features, handling capabilities, and the like. If there is something you are seeking in a car that is particularly important to you, such as cars that average over 40 miles per gallon on the highway, a quick internet search will give you the rundown. This will not only help you to narrow down what car you want, but you will probably find other cars that you hadn’t thought of before that offer what you are looking for in a vehicle.

Determine Your Budget

If you are looking to buy a new or used car, you may be financing it. If so, it’s important to determine what monthly payment you can afford. This will entail taking a hard look at your budget and at what you are comfortable paying every month. Shelton Used Cars in Woodlawn emphasizes that this is particularly important to have a firm number in mind before you walk into a new or used car dealership. It can be incredibly easy to find a car that you like but is more than you wanted to pay for a vehicle, and you end up purchasing it anyways because you didn’t have a budget in mind.

That being said, Shelton Used Cars offers in-house financing so you’ll know sooner rather than later if you qualify for your car. Many dealerships or online sites will calculate a car payment for you. All you’ll have to know is the estimated price of the car, the interest rate, and the term of the loan. Putting a down payment on your vehicle can help lower your payment as well.

Know Your Credit Score

Along with determining your budget, you’ll want to have a good idea of what your credit score is before applying for financing. Your credit score is what determines your interest rate. Having a good credit score means you can afford a nicer car because your payment will be lower. You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the big three credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). This is a great opportunity to ensure your credit report is accurate and to fix any items that may be negatively affecting your credit score.

Shop Around

No one said getting the best deal on a new or used car was easy. It will definitely take some work on your part, but deals are out there, you just have to find them; they won’t come to you. First, get a good idea of what the car or cars you want are going for by searching online. This way when you do go and look for cars, you’ll know if the dealer is overcharging for the car you want. Next, shop the local new and used car dealerships in your area online first. This will take any sales pressure off that you may feel and will give you an idea of what cars they have. You can always call as well to see if the dealership has a particular car you are interested in, and to find out its price. Some dealers will list prices on their websites; others won’t. Kelley Blue Book prices out used cars so you can get an idea of what a dealer would charge for a particular car as well. Special deals and rebates are often posted on car dealerships’ websites, which can make a difference in what car you ultimately buy. Some of these best car deals will save you thousands of dollars.

HOW SHELTON USED CARS CAN HELP YOU FIND A CAR

Shelton Used Cars has been helping people find used cars and automotive parts for over 40 years in the Woodlawn area, which is near Mount Vernon. As a family-owned used car dealer, we take pride in offering the best customer service. We have streamlined our used car inventory so that we can continue to focus on our customers rather than the quantity of cars we sell. Our buy here, pay here car program is very popular simply because you will be dealing with us as your financing choice, rather than banks. We offer the best prices on pre-owned cars in Southern Illinois, offering a two year warranty on all of our used vehicles. We do this because we believe you are getting an amazing vehicle when you buy a used car from us. Shop our used car dealership today!