Listen to Peers

Friends and family can be great sources of information for rookie car buyers. Chances are you already know dozens of people who have bought a new car in the past five years. Their specific knowledge might not be considered “expert” testimony, but combined with sound practices, will sometimes prove more useful than any guidebook.

Friends and family will provide you with localized information, which is difficult to come by. They can tell you who they’ve dealt with and how they’ve shopped. You can get extensive background on dealerships and sales representatives. Someone you know may even have a personal relationship with a trustworthy seller. Take advantage of these connections, but only if you can objectively apply all the information to your own car search.

You can also learn from the mistakes some of your peers may have made during the buying process. Next time one of them is buying a new car, you can offer your expertise to make sure it doesn’t happen again. What else are friends for?