Shopping for a car for most people is usually an all-day affair at the dealership and almost always, it is a stressful process… Well, it doesn’t have to be that way anymore – there is a better option and it only requires internet connectivity and a cell phone! The internet medium has certainly made many things easier and available for the masses…
The key to tipping the scale in your favor when shopping for a car is knowing its true cost… The other two important things you will need is patience and time… so without further ado, here are three FREE tools that will help you discover the true cost of the dream car you want as well as help you locate the exact one including the options you seek…
Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book (aka KBB) was formed back in 1926 by the Kelley brothers and since then, this resource became the standard guide in automotive trade in determining car value… Thanks to the internet, KBB is now available to the public and no longer just for dealerships… This site contains useful information for not just new cars but used as well and even motorcycles too… Other useful tools include a 5-Year Cost to Own information for new cars if you are planning to buy instead of lease…
Edmunds
Edmunds was founded back in 1966 to help gather car information to help car shoppers make better buying decisions… In 1999, this resource went digital and became available on the internet for the public to use… They are known for introducing the term “True Market Value” which was based on multiple factors to offer calculated price for buyers to use as a reference point… In 2013, they introduced a new feature called the Edmunds Price Promise which users to the true cost of a car online and guaranteed by the dealer…
TrueCar
TrueCar was founded back in 2005 and was originally formed to gather data from multiple sources to collect updated car pricing and provide this data to its customer base as part their zag.com services… Back in 2011, the company launched a series of promotional ads that backfired and caused tension with many dealerships nationwide but in 2015, a new CEO stepped to resolve the issue and present day, this resource is used by both buyers and dealer alike showing accurate information on new and used cars and what other buyers have paid for the same car you are interested in…
There are other resources out there and new ones being formed as you read this but very few will have the long history and the reputation those three above command… The internet has leveled the playing field and certainly has made the car buying process less stressful and more enjoyable if you are willing to put in the time and your due diligence…
One important factor most people tend to overlook when shopping for a new car is what the insurance cost will be, so be sure to contact your car insurance provider and find out the estimated cost of insurance and coverage you will need depending on whether you are buying or leasing so you can make a sound decision…
In summary, once you have your dream car in mind – find out its true market value and insurance cost and use that information to help leverage your way to getting that proverbial “deal of the century” – Good luck and drive safely!
