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***I’m by no means an expert at this and I highly suggest you do your own research in addition to this guide. These are just the steps that I took after doing my own extensive research.
So you’re thinking about buying your first car, but you have social anxiety. Don’t worry! This step-by-step guide will help you know what to expect during the process. It also provides tips on how to budget and search for a car if you’re totally clueless about it. Skip the mini back story that’s below😊.
Part of my social anxiety comes from me thinking that I’m inadequate to those around me. I feel like I can’t make any intelligent decisions for my life. Because of that I wanted to know every single detail when it came to buying a car so that I wouldn’t “look dumb” when I got there. I literally wanted to know everything from what they were going to ask to me to what the papers I had to sign looked like. It took me a full year and 6 months before I finally brought my first car in 2022. Even though most of that time was also spent deciding on the perfect car and waiting for prices to drop (still dealing with pandemic prices) my fear still played a big part in holding me back. So if you’re having trouble buying your first car, I hope this guide will give you a little confidence get started!
Also, read my post, How I Started Forcing Myself Out Of The House for tips on getting out and about after you get your car!
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Some definitions
- MSRP – Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (list price). Its what the makers of the car recommend the dealers to sale it for.
- Loan Term – How long it will take you to pay off the loan completely, when making scheduled payments.
- Window Sticker – Includes the features of the car, MSRP, and the price the dealers are selling the car for.
Decide How Much Car You Can Afford
1. Determine your desired car note
A car note is how much you will be paying for the car each month. To figure out how much of a car note you can afford – start by filling out a monthly budget sheet.
It will allow you to visualize how much income you’re bringing in vs how much money you’re putting out. Just list your monthly income from all your income sources. Then list all your bills and expenses, any debts you’re paying off, and any money you save. If you’ve never kept track of this before you can go back through some of your old bank statements to see what you did in past months. Or you can take a couple of months to track it.
2. Use An Auto Loan Calculator
Once you have an amount in mind for a car note, use an Auto Loan Calculator to determine how much a car would be based on that number. It estimates how much your total car payment and/or monthly payment would be based on figures like loan term, down payment, interest rate, etc. Your bank may also have one on their app or website (Navy Federal has a great one through their app).
3. Make a decision on what you WANT to pay vs. the max you are WILLING to pay.
For example: you may want to pay $24,000 for the total cost of the car, but if the dealer refuses to come down to that number, then you’re willing to pay a max of $25,500 (never let the dealer know your numbers).
My experience: I wish I knew my max number when I brought my car. Because when my anxiety is through the roof I literally cannot keep a single thought in my head. When the dealer said a number I wasn’t expecting, I couldn’t think on the spot if I was okay with that number or not. It would have been easier if I had a range to go by.
Look For Cars Currently On The Market
Now that you know the total amount of car you can afford and have an idea of the monthly payment, its time to find some cars that you like and that fall within that range.
1. Make a list of everything you cant live without
- Do you want a sedan (small car) or SUV?
- What type of safety features do you absolutely need?
- Four wheel drive or All-wheel drive?
2. Make a list of things you want, but can live without
- Heated seats?
- Dual air conditioning?
- Charging ports in the backseat?
3. Make a list of cars you are interested in
Look up cars that have the features, looks, and price you want. I found the below sources to be the best during my search:
- Kelly Blue Book – This site shows you what cars are currently on the market. It also has detailed reviews and a features list for each car. It’s super helpful because you can select from categories like Subcompact SUVs, SUVS, Small Cars, etc and it lists their price range.
- Cars.com – Here you can search for new and used cars for sale in your area. It’s another way to see cars on the market within your price range. I also used it as a way to find dealerships near me.
Research The Cars On Your List
Now that you have a list of cars that you are considering, narrow down the list to find the perfect one!
1. Look into the car brand
Ask questions like:
- How long do people say this brand of cars lasts?
- What’s the warranty compared to other brands?
- How many recalls do they typically have on their cars?
2. Look at car reviews and car tours on YouTube
- Car Reviews – these are great for seeing every single detail and feature of a car. It will feel so good to go to the dealership and already know what the car has to offer. You wont really have to ask any questions (unless you want to) because most car reviewers cover everything there is to know. There are a ton of great reviewers on YouTube, but I found MikesCarInfo to have some of the most detailed ones.
- Car Tours – I suggest watching car tour videos if you’re more interested in the aesthetics of the car. I got so many great ideas for how to decorate my car. This pink steering wheel cover was the FIRST thing I brought! It also gives you a more detailed look at the interiors of cars and to hear reviews from an owners point of view.
Get Preapproved For A Loan
Once you know what car you want and are ready to buy it, you should get preapproved for a loan. You can do this through your bank, a bank you’re not a member of, or a credit union. You can also just get a loan from the dealership, but you have more negotiating power if you get preapproved. I’m just going to talk about getting a loan through your own bank, since that’s what I did.
1. Research Interest Rates for Auto Loans
Your bank will have a section that lists their interests rates for auto loans. I suggest going back to the Auto Loan Calculator and plugging in those interest rates to see how it will affect your estimated monthly payments.
2. Fill out the Auto Loan Application
- Decide which bank has the lowest interest rate
- Fill out the auto loan application through the banks app or website. I suggest applying for multiple loans at once to weigh your odds and options. You will only be able to use one loan though.
- After you complete the application, you will get approved or denied instantly or you may have to wait for an email.
- Once you get approved, the bank will tell you how to retrieve your check. Also, there is a timeframe for when the check will expire, so make sure you are definitely buying a car soon after.
How my loan worked: I got preapproved with Navy Federal. They gave me the option of picking up the check or having them mail it to my house. I chose to have them mail it and it came with clear instructions on which papers to give to the car dealer. Thankfully, the car dealer will also know what papers they need.
Buy Your Car!
Okay, so you decided on your car and have your check. The last step is to head to the dealership!
1. Bring someone with you
- Make sure this is a person you trust, is talkative, and knows about your social anxiety (preferably a person that’s good at negotiating and experienced in car buying too).
- Make sure you guys discuss before hand what you want to pay and your max number, that way they can do ALL the talking. You will just have to sign the papers.
If you cant bring someone with you
- Know without a doubt what car you want that way you can go straight to it at the lot. A car salesman will come up to you and let you look inside.
- Know everything about it like the back of your hand so you wont have to ask any questions. Just check the car out and make sure everything is in place like all the videos and car reviews said.
- Bring notes if you do have questions. Make sure your notes include prices you’re willing to accept and/or not accept.
- During the negotiating stage, give them a number lower than what you were preapproved for so there is more room for the numbers to go up. If they go higher than you want, stick to what you said and be willing to walk out.
2. Check Out And Test Drive Your Future Car
- If you watched and read a million reviews like I did, all you will have to do is just admire everything in person. I had no questions because I knew everything there was to know (If you are getting a used car, you should 100% ask questions though).
- During the test drive, the two people who came with me were allowed to ride in the car with me. I’m sure it will be the same for you and help ease some of your nerves.
3. Negotiate
- They will show you a price (the total price that was listed on the window sticker, plus tax) and when you or the person with you asks for a different number, they walk away and come back with a different price. Just keep doing that until they say they cant come down anymore. I lucked out because I had someone to do the negotiating for me 🤭.
4. Sign the papers
- After you settle on a price, the car salesman will hand you your keys. At this stage I had to call an insurance agency to get signed up and pay for my first month over the phone. Then I had to tell the insurance agent to send my documents to the dealership, so that the dealer had proof of insurance.
- Next, the car salesman directed me to the finance office to sign all of the documents. The finance person told me where to sign my name and he knew which papers he needed from the letter the bank sent with my loan.
- After that, the car dealer will take the paper mats out of the car and help you connect your phone to the car. Then you’re free to drive it home!
Good luck getting your first car! You totally got this ^-^
My final take: The hardest part about buying a car was honestly all the research. From my experience, the dealership people knew everything that was needed. They just showed me my price, I handed them my check, and they handed me papers to sign and keys to my car. The dealer really holds the most responsibility, your main job is just to get the price you want. Although, bringing people with me made it 100% easier.
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