Negotiating With Dealers

You've seen the ads. You know exactly what you want and how much you plan to pay. You're going to get that smoking new car that captured your interest two months ago.

But here's the catch — the car-buying process is a job in itself, and the only thing keeping you away from that cobalt-blue convertible is the unappealing idea of dealing with sales people.

That's not the end of it either; you also have to decide what to do with your present car, how you're going to buy the new one and how much insurance you need. It's a daunting process and is probably why you haven't taken that roadster to the track. But don't get discouraged.

As is the case with most of life's complicated and less-than-glamorous chores, the solution to easing any onerous burden, the car-buying process included, is to break it down into small steps. With any luck, you might even enjoy the process — once you know everything there is to know.

Time vs Money

If the most important thing to you is getting the lowest possible price, you're going to have to negotiate, and this can be quite a time-consuming process. If your time is your most valuable asset, you should worry less about striking the best possible deal and endeavor instead to find a reputable dealer in your area who has earned high scores for consumer satisfaction.

In this case, visiting the fleet department maybe a good option for you.  You only negotiate once when purchasing a vehicle, but you will make multiple visits to the dealership for scheduled maintenance.

However, if you pride yourself on striking the best possible deal, then you have taken the most important first step: Going online to do your research.

Photographed by Thomas Donohoe, ForbesAutos.com

Next: Do Your Homework