How to Buy a Car as a Young Woman

I clearly remember the first time I walked into a car dealership, interested in buying my first car as a young professional. From the moment I walked on the lot, I felt ignored, and when a salesman finally took the time to speak with me, his attitude was entirely patronizing. The one thing that kept me from walking out the door was when I looked in the corner of the lot, and there it was - my dream car. Since I was 15 years old, I had dreamed of owning this vehicle, and now that I graduated college and got my first real job, I was ready to make the purchase. I took the car for a test drive and then went back into the office with the condescending salesman to see what kind of deal I could get. When he offered me a "deal," I asked if I could have some time to discuss the cost with my car obsessed boyfriend. I stepped outside to make the phone call, and the man lingered the whole time. At that point, I resolved that even if this was my dream car, I could find it someplace else where I would be treated better. I got off the phone and told them I would need to think about it. They told me that if I walked away, the deal was off the table, and they would never go that low again. Don't fall for these kinds of ploys. They will go that low the next time you walk through the doors, if not lower.

In the end, I bought my dream car, and I was able to buy it at a price that was $5,000 less than what kbb.com said I should be able to get it for at a dealership. Some call it beginners luck. So do I, but I wanted to let other women know what I learned throughout this process in the hopes that I can help them jump over the barriers I faces. Below are some of my lessons learned.

1. Do your research before ever entering the lot. Know what make and model you are interested in, and try to decide on an approximate year if possible. Most dealerships offer the advantage of looking at their stock online before making the trip to the dealership. This allows you the comfort of going to Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com) and other helpful websites to see what the car is really worth. Walking in with that knowledge will allow you to make the best deal, but keep in mind you still may be able to get them to go lower.