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  • Check out different vehicles. Do your research first and compare vehicles. Four key resources that offer information in print and online concerning vehicle performance, service and safety are: Consumer Reports, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and Edmunds.
  • Research the dealer’s price for the car and options. It’s easier to get the best price when you know what the dealer paid for a vehicle. The dealer invoice price is available at a number of websites and in printed pricing guides. Consumer Reports provides the wholesale price; this figure factors in dealer incentives from a manufacturer and is a more accurate estimate of what a dealer is paying for a vehicle.
  • Find out if the manufacturer is offering rebates that will lower the cost. Two websites that offer this information are Carsdirect.com and Autopedia.com.
  • Get price quotes from several dealers. Find out if the amounts quoted are the prices before or after rebates are deducted.
  • Avoid low-value extras such as credit insurance, auto club memberships, extended warranties, rust proofing and upholstery finishes. You do not have to purchase credit insurance in order to get a loan.
 
Consumer News
NHTSA Announces List of 2011 Model Year Vehicles to be Rated Under the New Government 5-Star Safety Ratings Program
Cadillac Escalade, Ford F-250 Pickup, and Infiniti G37 Top List of Highest Insurance Claims for Theft
Beware of Deceptive Auto Loan Modification Offers
Drivers Are Not Just Distracted by Cellphones; Texting, Eating, Even Grooming All Prove Hazardous on the Road
BBB Warns Car Shoppers About Online Dealer Scam
Consumer Advisory: Parents and Caregivers Reminded Never to Leave Children in Cars
4 Tips for Negotiating a New-Car Price


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Feature Links
25-Point Checklist for New-Car Test-Drive
Auto Safety Tips
Drive Smarter Challenge
Financing, Leasing, or Renting - Federal Trade Commission
Automobile Maintenance
Life Stages Insurance Tool
Short-Term Energy Outlook


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