Car Buying for the Single Woman 201

Ready, Set, Test Drive!

Having been a woman in the car business was tough sometimes but it allowed me to learn some of the tricks of this game from the inside. Now I can share some of what I have learned with my "sisters" to help them avoid the tripwires some sales agents use.

Okay, you've done some homework. You know what your credit is like, you've researched your needs vs. your wants, you know how much you can afford and you're ready to buy your car, right? Not just yet. You are now ready to get into some real homework. Let's go for a test drive...actually, lots of test drives!

The Test Drive is one of the most important steps in the car buying process. It allows you to test your ideas about what you need vs. what you want from a car in a relatively safe way. It will allow you to get a feel for the dealership and the sales agent. It will also give you a real idea of what is being charged for a car vs. what the websites say it should cost. And it is just plain fun! When you are ready to head for the dealership...

Be prepared to drive a lot.

Drive everything on your list and then drive a few that aren't. Every car is different and driving one or two that aren't on the top of your list may bring something to your attention that you weren't aware of. For example, many women are drawn to bigger vehicles because of the idea that bigger means safer but how safe is the thing if you can't park it or maneuver down your narrow street comfortably?

Leave your money at home!

There is something about the scent and feel of a new car that can make all your careful plans fly right out the window. Leaving any method of payment at home will ensure that your buying plan will stay safe.

Your sales agent should go out in the car with you

He or she needs to demonstrate how all the buttons and gadgets work. Then, if the dealership policy allows it, you should go out in the car alone so you can get comfortable with the vehicle and really see if it "fits" you without the distraction of a sales agent trying to get you to buy today. A note of caution here...