How to Research a Deal on Your Next Car -- Savings Experiment

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How to Research a Deal on Your Next Car
How to Research a Deal on Your Next Car

Buying a new car can be confusing, and with so many options it's hard to know whether you're getting the best deal for your new wheels. Luckily, there are a few easy tips that can help you drive away with more savings.

The first thing to do is go online to asses the car's long-term costs. At Edmunds.com, you can find out what the "true cost to own" will be. Simply put in the make, model and year of your car and you'll get a helpful cost breakdown. The site even gives you a side­-by-side comparison with key stats for each vehicle. Using these tools could potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Another important thing to do is check the reviews. On MotorMouths.com, you can look up an average score of your car based on reviews submitted by popular car authorities like Automobile Magazine and CNET. This may seem obvious, but digging deeper can really pay off.

Finally, if you're in the market for a used car, go on your smartphone and check out Vinny. Not only is this app great for looking up a car's history, it's also free! Simply open the app, and scan the VIN barcode on the car to start the process. Vinny has data on over 100 million cars and you'll get instant results on the car's value, which will help you negotiate a better deal.

Before you buy your next car, give these tips a try. You'll find that with a little know-how, you'll get the most mileage for your budget.

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