Helpful Tips for Women Car Buyers

Unfortunately, there are lingering stereotypes and misconceptions about women car buyers, and some dealerships still don’t understand that women are just as capable and knowledgeable about purchasing a vehicle as their male counterparts. Forbes has even found that women buy more than 50% of cars in the U.S, and take part in 80% of family car buying decisions.

The best advice for women car buyers is to use the same negotiation techniques recommended to any car buyer.  Just be prepared to deal with salespeople in a patient and confident manner, and you’ll have no issues getting what you want.  Here are a few of our favorite car buying tips and techniques that you can use when shopping for your next vehicle.

Secure a source of financing before you walk on to a dealer’s lot.

The best way to stick to your budget is to know what you can afford before talking to a salesperson that may not be motivated to do what’s in your financial best interests.  By getting pre-approved by your lender of choice, you will be able to narrow down what cars make sense financially for you and feel confident that you can handle the costs and upkeep of your new car.

Do extensive online research to narrow down your search.

The Internet is a wonderful place to start your car research.  You can find unbiased opinions and a wealth of information about vehicle safety, features, and average prices.  You should come up with a list of features and requirements that you want and need in your new car.  Make sure that if you’re planning on keeping the car for longer than a couple years, that the vehicle meets not only your current needs as well as your future needs if your situation changes.

Know that ALL items are negotiable once you step on to the dealership lot.

Once you know what type of cars you’re interested in, it’s time to head on over to your chosen dealership.  It’s vital to understand that no matter what salespeople might say, all items are negotiable.

To get the best price on your chosen vehicle follow these three guidelines:

1. Don’t give ammunition to the salesperson.
   This could include what your budget looks like or if you have a trade-in vehicle. Save this information as prime negotiating power for once you’ve seen a contract written up for your preferred price and package.
2. Don’t be afraid to walk away.
   Not happy with the numbers or feel uncomfortable with the salesperson? Say no and walk away. One of two things will happen, the dealership will suddenly be willing to work with you or you’ll find another dealership that better suits your needs.
3. Compare dealerships against one another.
   There might be three Mazda dealerships within reasonable driving distance of your home. See which dealership is offering the lowest price, and tell the other salespeople to match or beat that offer.

Use these helpful tips to give you negotiating power during the car buying process, and you’ll drive away happy and confident.  Remember, women are the decision makers of more than half of all car buying purchases in the U.S!  In time, these stereotypes should fade and women will be seen as the confident and knowledgeable car buyers they are.

We are here to make the auto buying experience simple, fast, and fun! We’ll take care of the details so you can focus on finding the car that’s perfect for you. Use our Auto Loan Calculator to begin your car buying research today. Happy car hunting!