| It pays to be a smart shopper when it comes to the | | | | your best interest. You can make an offer contingent |
| big purchases in life. You can save yourself valuable | | | | on an inspection free of any issues, but don't skip this |
| time and money when you know what you want and | | | | important step. A trained mechanic may spot problems |
| how much you can reasonably afford before you | | | | that you don't detect. |
| start shopping. If you're in the market for a new or | | | | 5. Pay off the loan on your old car first. If you're like |
| used vehicle, follow this car buying advice to ensure | | | | most Americans in the market for a new car, you |
| your decision is the right one for your situation. | | | | have an older car you need to unload. Trading it into |
| 1. Do your research. With the Internet, researching your | | | | the dealership is an attractive option; however, there |
| next vehicle has never been easier. You can read | | | | are good reasons to avoid this route. First of all, you |
| reviews and ratings, look up suggested values, search | | | | might make more selling the car privately because you |
| actual dealer inventories in your area and find out | | | | can price it at the retail value. A dealer will give you the |
| what's on the lot. You can even access pricing | | | | wholesale price or even a little less. Second, if you still |
| information, like how much the dealer paid for a vehicle. | | | | owe money on the car when you trade it in, that |
| This can be a particularly powerful piece of information | | | | amount will be rolled into your new car loan. Not only |
| when it comes to negotiating. | | | | will this make your payments higher, but it also means |
| 2. Download the Cartopia app from Nationwide. If | | | | the dealership is responsible for paying off your old |
| you've got an iPhone or iPod Touch, the Nationwide | | | | loan, which they may or may not do on time. If the loan |
| Cartopia app can do most of your car shopping | | | | on your old car becomes delinquent, it will reflect poorly |
| research for you. This handy app can provide you with | | | | on your credit record, not the dealership's. |
| free vehicle history reports, safety information, dealer | | | | 6. Consider all the costs of ownership. When you |
| invoice pricing, monthly payment estimates and | | | | purchase a car, you're not just acquiring monthly car |
| one-touch access to a Nationwide Insurance or | | | | payments. You also should consider costs such as |
| Nationwide Bank representative for quotes on auto | | | | fuel, insurance, repairs and registration fees. For |
| insurance and auto loans. | | | | example, hybrid vehicles may be more expensive to |
| 3. Take a test drive. Before you make an offer on a | | | | insure while SUVs and trucks will have higher gas |
| used car or negotiate the price of a new car, take a | | | | costs. Make sure you have a complete financial picture |
| test drive. It not only shows the seller or dealer you're | | | | before you make the purchase to avoid unexpected |
| interested, but also gives you a firsthand look at the | | | | expenses. |
| car and how it handles. | | | | When you consider the car buying advice above, it |
| 4. Have a mechanic inspect the used car you want to | | | | may help you shop smarter for your next vehicle. |
| purchase. If you've done your research and taken a | | | | Cartopia, the new iPhone car insurance app from |
| test drive of a used car, there's one more step before | | | | Nationwide, can also be instrumental when buying a |
| you make an official offer. Take the time to have a | | | | car. In just moments, you can access detailed |
| mechanic of your choice inspect the car. The seller or | | | | information on a car you are considering. You can also |
| dealer may insist the car has already been inspected, | | | | get quotes quickly on auto loans and insurance. Find |
| but it's still important to consult a mechanic working in | | | | more car buying tips from Nationwide Insurance today. |