What Should I Do Before I Buy A New Car?
What Should I Do Before I Buy A New Car in Alexandria, LA?
Before you rush into any big decision, the team here at Giles Hyundai has a few tips that we'd like to share when you're ready to buy a new Hyundai. It's a major investment, which is why a little preparation beforehand will go a long way. Consider our tips outlined below:
Get Pre-Approved
The first thing you'll want to do before buying a new car is to get pre-approved for credit. Your finance pre-approval will help you figure out your spending power, which will assist you in making your budget. The financial team at Giles Hyundai suggests placing 20 percent down, limiting your loan term to no more than 60 months and maintaining your monthly payments below 10 percent of your monthly income. While these numbers will change based on your credit score and history, don’t forget to include annual maintenance costs and insurance in your configuration.
Research
Once you've been pre-approved and you have an idea what your budget looks like, start researching. You can look at manufacturers' websites, our inventory or third-party sites like Kelley Blue Book® and Edmunds. We recommend all three. Compare prices, make a list of must-have features and look up awards and safety ratings for the vehicles you like. Make sure you've chosen the body style that matches your lifestyle and family needs and stick to it while shopping around.
Value Your Trade
When you trade in your current model for one of ours, you could lower your monthly payments! We offer free CARFAX® trade-in values online, so enter your vehicle's information to get started. Bring your online quote and current model to our dealership to have everything verified in person. You could get a cash offer that can be placed toward your new vehicle purchase.
Test-Drive
You'll want to experience the models that you're considering firsthand, which is why we highly recommend a long test drive with each one. Take your time — you'll want to test everything from the radio to cruise control. How is the car's handling? Is the driver's seat comfortable? Is the technology easy to use? Does this car have all the convenience features you want? And since a member of our team will be sitting right next to you, ask them any other questions that a test drive won't answer. We can't wait to help!
Interested in purchasing or leasing a new Hyundai or quality used vehicle? Contact us or visit our dealership at 3220 S MacArthur Dr., Alexandria, LA 71301. We look forward to serving our customers from Alexandria, LA, near Pineville, Marksville and Natchitoches
