How to Buy a New Car

If you’re looking for a new car around San Francisco, you might be feeling intimidated or frustrated by the buying process. You may have had a poor experience at a dealership, or you might just not know where to start. Fortunately, INFINITI of San Jose is here to help! Our team has put together a guide detailing the ins and outs of how and when to buy a new car, including the buying process and some of your financial options. Check it out, then head to our online inventory to see what new INFINITI models we have available!

When to Buy a New Car

Before you learn how to buy a new car, you need to determine when to buy a new car. Buying a new car is a major financial decision, and not one you should make lightly. Here are a few factors that might sway you towards upgrading your current vehicle to a new model:

• You’re spending a lot of time and money on expensive repairs, to the point where you might be spending more in a year on repairs than you would spend on a new vehicle.
• Your life has changed significantly since buying your current car – like you’ve gotten married or had a baby – and need an upgrade to suit your new lifestyle.
• Your car is making you feel unsafe when you drive it.
• You find your car is failing emissions tests, which is expensive to address compared to upgrading to a new model.

How to Find Your Ideal New Car

Now that you’ve decided it’s time to buy a new car, how do you start the process? You might want to start by coming up with a budget that works with your lifestyle. If you’re having trouble determining a realistic number, feel free to reach out to our finance center for help! Once you’ve come up with a budget and a payment plan, here’s a step-by-step process on how to buy a new car:

1. Consider what you’re looking for in a new car when it comes to speed, size, features, and technology. Use these factors to narrow your search down to only the models that meet these requirements.
2. Narrow your search down to three models. Do some in-depth research on each model. You should have a sense of each option’s lifespan, safety rating, available trim levels, engine configurations, and price points.
3. If you’re able, take each of your top three choices out for a test drive around Pleasanton to see how they handle on the road.
4. Pick one final choice that you’re committed to buying. Research local dealerships and request price quotes to see who will give you the best deal.
5. Look for any relevant sales, like Black Friday or Presidents Day. If you find yourself strapped for cash, consider waiting until the dealership’s next big holiday or sales weekend.
6. Head to the dealership to bring your new car home!

How to Afford a New Car

You know when and how to buy a new car, but how can you fit it into your budget? More to the point, how much can you afford to spend? You’ll want to do some critical thinking about your available funds and how you can factor a car into that, particularly if you have other debts in the picture. U.S. News suggests that your debts – including car payments – shouldn’t comprise over a third of your monthly income. Besides the cost of the new car, there are additional fees and taxes you should be aware of:

• Interest rate: In addition to your monthly payments, you’ll be paying interest on each payment. Your interest rate is determined based on your credit score, and the lower your rate, the lower total amount you’ll be paying each month.
• Sales tax: Your new car sales tax is usually added to your loan amount, and is non-negotiable.
• Trade-in value: You can usually trade in your current vehicle at the dealership in exchange for a new vehicle. The trade-in value of your car is taken off the cost of the new car. However, you can also trade in a car that still has a loan amount on it; the dealership will roll the remaining balance onto your new car loan. If you’re interested in this option, you can calculate your trade-in value right from our website!

We want you to have as much information going into the buying process as possible. You can apply for financing and calculate your monthly payments using online tools from our finance center.

Discover Your Next Car at INFINITI of San Jose in San Jose!

If you have any questions about what we’ve discussed above or want more information about our inventory of new INFINITI models, feel free to contact our office anytime! You can also browse our vehicle specials for even more ways to save on your next INFINITI, learn about used vs. CPO models, how to take over a car lease, and more.