Some people love shopping for cars, while others absolutely dread it. Getting a car isn't a run-of-the-mill purchase – it's something that can drastically affect your financial situation. You could make the mistake of spending way too much on your next car, or you could underspend and end up with a less-than-reliable vehicle. Don't stress! Keep this financial advice in mind as you shop and you'll avoid any major mistakes. 

Never Shop before You Draw Up a Budget

Before you ever walk into our dealership or take a look at our website, you should draw up a budget to determine how much you can afford. What's the harm in browsing ahead of time, you ask? Well, there is the very great danger of overestimating what you can afford and getting your hopes up for a vehicle that won't be practical. Calculate how much money you have to spare comfortably after paying bills and rent and buying groceries. And remember to account for gas and insurance.

Once you've settled on an amount that you can realistically spend, head to the dealership and outline your budget to the dealer. They'll be able to direct you towards vehicles that are within your range, without the temptation of fancier cars and extras that you don't need and can't afford. This will save you a lot of disappointment in the long run.

Never Base Decisions Solely on Your Monthly Payment

If you are getting a lease, focusing on a low monthly payment makes a lot of sense. After all, at the end of the term, you can just turn the vehicle in and get another one. Where low payments on a lease are a convenience that doesn't hurt you long-term, extremely low payments on a purchase can sometimes extend the financing term without any added benefit to you. In other words, you might end up paying more – just over a longer period of time. And by the time that you are paid off, the vehicle's residual value might be next to nothing.

The amount of money that you put down will help lower the payments, but more than anything you'll want to ensure that you are getting a good final cost on the vehicle. This will keep payments reasonable so that you can finance over the normal period instead of, say, seven years.

Ask What Extras the Dealership is Offering

A lot of New Jersey car dealers offer incentives for their customers. Some will offer free maintenance or oil changes for a certain number of years or miles – things that can save you a good deal of money down the road. Don't be shy!!! Ask what they'd be willing to offer you. After all, you are committing to a purchase worth thousands of dollars, and a good dealership like ours will offer you something in return! 

Take a look at our online inventory at Autoland and schedule a test drive today!

Your Next Car Needs to Be a Certified Pre-owned Car

You know that you need a different vehicle, but you aren't exactly sure whether to go used or new. After all, both have distinct advantages: used cars are very affordable, but new cars are incredibly reliable. Stop agonizing over your decision and get the best of both worlds by purchasing a certified pre-owned car.

When you're looking for a car dealer in NJ, make sure that you ask our dealership about its certified pre-owned car selection. These vehicles are one of the smartest investments you can make, but you may not be aware of their many benefits. Here are some of the most important things that they offer:

Guaranteed quality

When people decide not to buy used cars, it almost always has something to do with quality and potential repair costs. The horror stories from people who have bought lemons usually have something to do with this. However, the good news here is that buying from a respected dealer like Autoland ensures that even the regular used cars are up to certain standards of quality, and the certified ones are even better! Low mileage and late model vehicles are the only ones that can earn the certified pre-owned label, and they have to meet the manufacturer's standards as well. These include rigorous inspections and like-new quality that lasts. You'll never drive off the lot and break down two weeks later with a certified vehicle!

Excellent extended warranties

There's nothing worse than buying a car, discovering that something is wrong with it, and then having to pay for everything because it is no longer under warranty. A lot of certified pre-owned programs will not only extend the vehicle's original basic warranty, they are also willing to extend the original powertrain warranty along with it. Others may choose to simply transfer the car's original warranty over to the new owner. Either way, if you choose to go the certified pre-owned route, your car could be covered for a long time.

Affordable financing interest

Some people say that they don't buy certified pre-owned vehicles because they tend to be more expensive than regular used cars, but that line of thinking isn't necessarily true. The vast majority of certified pre-owned cars are eligible for much lower interest rates than regular used cars are. The low interest rate can help keep the monthly payments low and, in the long run, can save you money.

Take a look at our certified pre-owned inventory at our Autoland website and stop in for a test drive today!

The Stress-Free Guide to Getting an Auto Loan

Maybe you're looking for used cars in New Jersey, or maybe you have your heart set on finding a new one. Either way, you need a different car, and you need to figure out how to afford one. It would be nice if everyone could just get the cash they need out of the bank, but the vast majority of people need some kind of auto loan.

Some people are wary of getting a loan, and others are way too happy to agree to one that they truly can't afford. You need to get the right loan for your budget but, if you're new to financing, this can seem impossible. As long as you go into the process informed, however, you won't have a problem. To that end, here are some tips:

Don't obsess over the interest rate

Finding an auto loan with a low interest rate is great, but it's only a small part of the total picture. You need to know how much you can put down and the terms of the loan before making any decisions. Take the various other expenses into account and calculate how much you can manage and see if the loan still looks as good.

Don't shop before getting your loan

If you go car shopping before getting an auto loan amount, you're getting way ahead of yourself! You may not have a clear sense of what you can actually afford, and that car you set your heart on might end up being beyond you financially. This will only lead to disappointment or a decision made based on emotions rather than your bank account – and either scenario is bad. By getting a loan before you start browsing, you'll be able to limit your search to realistic possibilities from the get-go.

Know your credit score

Never talk to anyone about an auto loan without knowing your credit rating. By doing so, you have the most important bargaining chip in your hand and can approach the loan process with confidence. You'll also be able to correct any kind of discrepancies or problems on your report before you start to seriously shop. This will allow you to get the best interest rates, as well as the most appropriate loan for your needs.

Never forget about the future

You can afford a pretty significant car loan now, but what about the future? Emergencies and unexpected financial changes can happen, and it may take longer than you think to pay off your car. On the other hand, you shouldn't factor things that aren't definite into you car buying decision. Don't plan on getting a raise next year unless you're sure that you'll get it, and don't assume that you'll "eventually" start making more money as the years go on.

Never Be a Distracted Driver

Do you think that you're a careful driver? Are you the kind of driver who obeys the speed limit, and won't even risk running through a yellow light? So far, the number of your accidents and traffic incidents may be low, but you may not be as safe of a driver as you'd think. 

Distracted driving is becoming a significant problem with drivers of all ages, and it's much more than just talking on the phone or texting while driving. If you spend most of your drive thinking about the office, changing songs on your iPod, or just plain old zoning out, that is distracted driving. The issue of distracted driving is more complicated than people previously thought, and the innovations meant to fix the problem aren't helping. A recent study has shown that hands-free phones and communication systems aren't any less distracting than cell phones. Some experts even think that they cause more problems, because these devices create a false sense of security. Our auto mall at Springfield wants to see distracted driving become a problem of the past! Don't become a statistic and let yourself become distracted while you drive. Be sure to follow these tips from us at Autoland to stay safe:

Leave your worries outside the car

Are you trying to figure out how to handle a work crisis? Did you have a fight with your spouse or kids? There are excellent times to think about these problems, but none of those times should involve driving a vehicle. If you want to combat distracted driving, do your best to limit any emotional distractions before getting behind the wheel. 

Plan out your drive

A lot of people rely on GPS devices to get where they need to go these days, and driving has never been easier. It has also never been more dangerous. The more time you spend looking at your GPS and adjusting routes, that's less time your eyes have for the road. Don't just enter in an address and hop in your car when you need directions. Load up your route, and take a minute or two to read it over. Doing this can help you anticipate where you need to go, and can keep you from being surprised if something comes up.

When distracted, pull over

Is your kid calling when you're on the road? Are you hungry enough to sneak a few bites from your salad? Do you need to fix your hair or adjust your pants or shirt? It doesn't matter what you have to do. If you're behind the wheel and need to do anything other than focus on the road and operate your vehicle, please pull over and do it. A split-second's diverted attention can cause a variety of problems and, quite frankly, whatever you're doing isn't worth an accident. If you pull over when you need to do something else, you won't have to worry about risking your life (or someone else's).