Buying a new or used car can be a hair pulling event. After the initial surge of elation passes, and the new car smell fades, you’re left with a large piece of metal in your driveway. Avoiding some of the common pitfalls of car buying can help you save money and maximize the car buying experience.

Before committing to buying your next car, research your particular needs, personal finances, and potential candidate cars. Make preliminary decisions about what you are going to buy before you step outside the door. In fact, a very tech savy user could save thousands on a new car purchase by buying online. The reason? You are LESS LIKELY to get suckered by a slick car salesman.