When you are buying your next car, you should make sure that you are getting the best value. It isn’t easy when a nagging salesman tries to get all of your money. The first step in any such process is to educate yourself on the subject at hand.

Pay attention to the overall price of the vehicle and not just the monthly payments. It is possible for a dealer to offer you a monthly price tag of any amount, but lower monthly payments may extend the life of the loan to the point where the final price of the vehicle will be ridiculously high. Instead, negotiate for the best overall deal on the price and financing of your vehicle. Once you have done that, determine what the monthly payments will be.

Take any car you plan to buy used from a private seller to a trusted mechanic. If the seller …