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Want to Buy a Car This Weekend? Read This First

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Getting a sweet deal on a new car may not be easy given how incentives and rebates have ebbed in recent months, but you don’t have to leave it to luck to find the right price for the right ride. Want to crack the code of automotive discounts? You’re in the right place. Read below for a list of links to help you get started on finding the best deal for your new vehicle.

Related: Which Dealerships Do It Right? Car Brands Ranked for Customer Service

What car should I buy? That depends on a lot of factors, and our reviews can help. Check out our recent additions:

Pickup trucks: Ford Super Duty F-250, Jeep Gladiator, Ram 2500/3500
SUVs: BMW X7, Nissan Murano, Cadillac XT4, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz G550, Kia Telluride, Volkswagen Tiguan, Lincoln Nautilus
Sedans: Audi A8 L, Audi A7, Honda Civic, Nissan Maxima, Volkswagen Arteon
Hatchback: Kia Soul, Mazda3
Hybrid: Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
Performance: Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, Toyota Supra, Acura NSX

Should I buy new or used? Read up on the pros and cons of each. If you go used, review our used-car buyers’ checklist and consider whether you want a certified pre-owned car.

How much can I afford? Read our primer. Then use our Price Comparison Tool while you shop to find what’s right for you.

Should I finance, lease or pay cash? That depends, but this might help you decide. How do I get the best lease rate? Bone up on common lease terminology, plus our tips.

How do I get the best financing rate? Our game plan lays out some advice. While you’re at it, here’s what you need to know about auto loans and what you’ll need to get one.

Anything I shouldn’t do when I’m at the dealer? Yep. Avoid these pitfalls.

Should I get an extended warranty? That depends. Here’s what you need to know.

How do I sell or trade in my old car? Learn how to prep your car before you sell it to a dealer, how to trade it in and how to deal with taxes and other considerations. If you still owe money on your old car, read this. Finally, if you want to sell it private party, here’s how to create the picture-perfect ad and how to seal the deal.

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.

Chief Copy Editor
Patrick Masterson

Patrick Masterson is Chief Copy Editor at Cars.com. He joined the automotive industry in 2016 as a lifelong car enthusiast and has achieved the rare feat of applying his journalism and media arts degrees as a writer, fact-checker, proofreader and editor his entire professional career. He lives by an in-house version of the AP stylebook and knows where semicolons can go.

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