Buying basics

How car buying actually works, start to finish.

• Buying basics · 6 min

  Buying a Car Out of State: Taxes, Tags, Emissions and Getting It Home

  How to buy a car in another state: where you pay sales tax, what to check on emissions and inspections, temp tags, and shipping vs driving it home.

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• Buying basics · 6 min

  How Much Car Can You Afford? Budget by Total Monthly Cost

  Work out a car budget from total monthly cost, not the payment alone. Includes the common rules of thumb and a worked example you can copy.

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• Buying basics · 6 min

  How to Buy a Car, Step by Step: From Budget to Driving Home

  A 12-step checklist for buying a car from a dealer, in the order that protects you: budget, financing, price in writing, inspection, paperwork.

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• Buying basics · 6 min

  How to Test Drive a Car: A 30-Minute Plan

  A structured 30-minute test drive for new and used cars: what to check before you move, the route to take, what to listen for, and the questions to ask after.

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• Buying basics · 6 min

  New vs. Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned: Which Should You Buy?

  An honest framework for choosing between a new, used, or certified pre-owned car, with a side-by-side table and the questions that decide it.

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• Buying basics · 5 min

  The Best Time to Buy a Car: What Timing Changes and What Is Myth

  What really moves a car deal: sales targets, model-year changeover, and how long a car has sat. Plus the timing myths you can safely ignore.

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