Have you decided that it’s time to get a new or used car? Are you not sure what you can do to make shopping for one less stressful? You are in the right place if so. Here you’ll go over a few of the things you need to think of when you go car shopping, so read along.

Go to different dealerships before settling on one. A different dealership might be able to get you a better price on the car you want, and may be running different promotions. Try three or four in your area, and even if you have to travel a bit farther, it may be worth it.

Take any car you plan to buy used from a private seller to a trusted mechanic. If the owners won’t allow this, that should be considered a red flag. There may be hidden problems that can be expensive to repair. You want information before you buy into these.

Be aggressive and assertive. You will inevitably end up negotiating the price of your vehicle, so don’t be afraid to push a little. Be prepared to walk away from the dealership if you aren’t making progress. Leave the offer alone for a day or two, and then contact the salesman again. If they know that you are willing to walk away, they will be more likely to accept your offer or to counter-offer with a more reasonable price.

Bring a spare set of keys with you to the dealership. When they ask for the keys to your trade in, give them the spare. Some dealerships will use your car keys to hold you hostage if a deal is not made. You want to avoid this, so make sure you have the ability to walk out of the dealership at any time without having to ask for your keys.

Shop for your new car near the month’s end. Most car dealers have quotas for their salespeople that they are trying to meet at this time. As month’s end approaches, salespeople who have not yet met their quotas may be more amenable to giving you a better deal in order to increase their numbers.

If you are absolutely in love with a certain color or interior finish, don’t settle for less. Though the specific vehicle that you want might not be in stock at your local dealership, ask them if they can get it for you. Most dealerships have relationships with other dealerships and will trade vehicles back and forth. Keep in mind though, you might end up paying a little bit extra to cover some of the costs of the trade.

Don’t hand over the keys to your trade in until the deal is signed. If they have your car “hostage,” they can use it to pressure you to buy the new car. Wait until the deal is done to ensure you keep control of the situation at all times during the transaction.

This guide should have helped you learn all that there is to know about car shopping. It doesn’t have to be that a difficult task if you know exactly what you’re doing. Take the advice and you’ll be able to take most of the stress out of shopping for a car.