First Time Car Buyer – Advice to My Younger Self

First Time Car Buyer. It’s all capitalized, because it’s practically a title – a title that auto dealerships love. You see, people who are shopping for their first car are like fish in a barrel. We don’t know the ropes. We walk in, and we’re easy pickings for the salesmen. Last time I referenced the first time I bought a car and how awful it was. Well, today, I’m going to share my first time car buyer experience and what I would say to myself back then if I could.

First Time Car Buyer Advice to Myself

“Oh, you poor, poor soul. You’re about to walk into the pearly-white-smile lion’s den, and you don’t even know it.”

That’s the first thing I would say. I would arm myself with the knowledge that car shopping is like jumping into a pool full of sharks who want to devour your money. That’s good advice to remember. After that, I would probably say…

“Look. They’re not actually talking to their manager. They’re leaving you here to sweat. They’re wearing you down. They’re playing a mind game on your. It’s psychological warfare!”

Followed closely by.

“Don’t give in! And for goodness sake, make sure your auto financing is in order BEFORE you walk through the dealership door.”

Those are all the major points I would make to former, first time car buyer self. Because those are all the scenarios I found myself in when I bought my first car. Let me tell you, it was the 10th circle of Hell. For real. It’s amazing how nefarious a person can be. I STILL don’t trust anyone with teeth that twinkle. LOL

But there’s a way I can make it easier on myself these days. I can use Capital One Auto Navigator to help get my auto financing in order before I walk through the dealership door. That empowers me to know exactly what I can afford and gives me bargaining power against those pearly whites.

Capital One Auto Navigator Helps First Time Car Buyers

If you’re a first time car buyer, you need all the help you can get. I swear, those guys can sense fear and inexperience. But when you walk in with your financing in order, it sends a message. It says, “I’m no pushover”. That’s how Capital One Auto Navigator can help with the whole buying experience.

With Capital One Auto Navigator, you can find the car that fits you perfectly and secure the financing you need in one place. It makes it so easy to plan out how much you can afford to spend on your new ride.

Just head over to the Capital One Auto Navigator website, and in just a few minutes, you’ll find if you pre-qualify for auto financing, and it does NOT affect your credit score. That’s so important. Once you find out if you’re eligible for financing, you can test out different financing options like term lengths, pricing, vehicles, and more. Auto Navigator will even give you your estimated monthly payment and APR, so you are fully empowered with knowledge.

In addition to that, you can also use Capital One Auto Navigator to find the perfect car by searching over 12,000 dealerships nationwide. You’re able to browse their inventory by make, model, price, and more from the comfort of your own home. It makes the first time car buyer experience SO much nicer.

Don’t Make it Easy for the Sharks

That’s the biggest thing I would tell my first time car buyer self. Don’t make it easy. Be savvy. Do your homework. And above all else, get your auto financing in order. With Capital One Auto Navigator, car buying just got so much easier. It’s an excellent resource for both the seasoned and first time car buyer. Check it out!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Capital One. All opinions stated on this post is 100% my own.