For first time automobile buyers the process and procedures can be daunting. Whether it’s for a shiny new or used SUV, truck or simple car it’s a most intimidating series of events – a real circus. It is like the sheep being thrown to the wolves. Yet the benefits of having transportation in most cases greatly outweigh the apparent costs and risks. After all, who wants to forever take the bus or taxis? Having “wheels \’ of your own is a right to passage now in the US and Canada not only for young males but women as well. Yet how can you or your children protect themselves from sometimes disaster and disastrous auto buying tricks of the automotive sales trades and wholesale industry?

Recently a major auto support marketing and research firm conducted what might be called an undercover stakeout and even investigation into this topic and industry. Their finding can be summarized in five “tips”. Being forewarned is forearmed and prepared. Then again kids like anyone else in the world seldom listen to the voices of experience. Perhaps every person has to learn these hard lessons of how not to be taken advantage in the auto buying game on their own. Sad but true. You can only do your best to warn and teach them to be careful consumers especially with large ticket items.

It can be said that most business decisions focus on tree questions. What do we want? How will we achieve that? And lastly – how will we know when we have finished or accomplished this task or series of tasks.

First step is to determine what the potential auto owners needs are. As in life the choices often come to practical logistics. Sure your kid may want a motorcycle or perhaps a trendy Jeep. Yet are those practical for real life events and transportation needs on a daily and regular basis? Hence the first step is to determine the transport needs and which products fill these requirements. Next in line is the corollary – how much will it cost and how much can he or she afford. (That is without a PHD – papa has dough – doing the subsidized financing or outright cash purchase). The future buyer must sit down and do the hard math. What is their income? What are their savings? Are they willing to deplete their savings or become cash poor in the process by up-scaling on the vehicle or paying off the auto credit loan on a faster payment plan? On top of that provide for contingencies as well as auto consumable costs, in addition to insurance while providing for potential cash outlay and out of pocket expenses for unexpected repair and maintenance costs.

The next step in the car buying process is how we will achieve this. There are no shortages of auto sales options in today\’s world. They abound. For new cars check dealers in your area first.

Or perhaps they should check online first out of state or province. In today\’s internet connected world there are no shortage of internet sales departments of both used and new car dealers willing to give a quote and enter into negotiations online. The beauty is that although prices are listed on websites, quite officially, these are basically MSRP or manufacturer\’s suggested listed prices. Whether it’s the dealer not trying to give his hand away to competitors in the automotive sales arena locally, or to get customers into their physical bricks and mortar dealership or limits by the factory and car maker it’s all the same. By going through an online quote for an automobile you hopefully get real life fix on what pricing is, what models with what options are available on the marketplace currently. On top of that two factors to consider. By talking or emailing specifically with a live person , trained for the task you should be informed which models , and in what setups, are currently on deals with buying inducements and as which lines are even better deals – perhaps being cleared out or discounted within the sales groups. On top of that you are in an excellent negotiating position rather than being behind the eight ball. By seeking out an internet sales department and identifying yourself as a distant car buyer who never would have walked into the dealership you are found business out of the blue – which is a bonus on top of everything else to the dealership. Whether it’s to clear out stock, pay business costs and cash flow or simply to impress head office with higher volume monthly sales you are found business, a total windfall to that group. Anything they get from you is gravy on the top out of the blue. Hence it is in their direct interest to quote pricing and terms aggressively to close the deal promptly. Otherwise with a click of the mouse you will move onto to dealer number 2, 3 or 10 down the list.

If you are seeking a used product in addition to dealers you have other options. Still if the homework is completed for new product you have a reference set for used vehicles. Are they worth it?

In years gone by most vehicles had the depreciation hit once the tires hit the road and the car or truck was driven off the lot? Not necessarily so today. First of all some very desirable vehicles – such as ultra high fuel efficient Japanese hybrids , that due to today\’s high gas prices as well as limited stock on hand on lots , may depreciate negligibly if at all. Hence if you can get them new at not much more cost it can be well worth a small bump. You will know the actual history , maintenance log and care of the unit plus you will have most likely longer life span before major repairs or consumables replacements ( such as tires and brakes) and as well be guaranteed a full warranty time period. Secondly dealers often have factory incentives and rebates on new cars and trucks which may not have been available on the used unit when new, or the marketplace for used vehicles does not factor in what so ever. Regardless check out used cars and trucks at dealerships online and in your geographic areas, in your local newspapers and online through such avenues as Craigslist, eBay, Kijiji and other online and print classified services and sections that avail you.

In the end with physical products you can always tell when you or your youngster have completed the task and arrived. If they are driving down the road or highway reliably, the vehicle gets them and their friends where you want to go reliably without much complaint or service, which they are not on first name terms with the local mechanic or auto dealership service tech writer that is good.

If at the end of the day they determine that overall they a paid a fair and reasonable price then it’s been a good deal for them, a relief to any parent or advisers involved and a fair deal for all. If as a parent or guardian you have lived through the whole series of events without losing much sleep or getting gray hairs it is even better yet.

Author Bio: Samuel Samuels Auto Sweepstakes Contest Enter