We’ve been thinking a lot lately about buying a new “daily driver” car. Must tell you that as much as I respect my husband’s knowledge about cars I like to be well informed as well. Like with any major purchase we do our first step is research. While doing this I found Courtney Hansen tips on Autotrader to be very valuable.

Buying a car doesn’t need to be stressful but we need to prepare ourselves. Since we are on what Courtney calls Phase I: researching and planning I hope these tips help you as they are helping me:

Keep your eyes and ears open. Look at cars on the road and determine what features and models appeal to you.
Ask other drivers about their experience with cars that catch your eye.

Consider your driving needs. Ask yourself questions to determine what features are essential for you and what fits with your needs and lifestyle:

• Passenger Seating – How many passengers are normally in your vehicle?
• Storage Space and Hauling Power – Do you need a significant amount of trunk space or hauling capacity?
• Driving Terrain – Do you need an all-wheel drive vehicle?
• Maintenance & Fuel Costs – How much driving do you do? Can you afford to fill up your tank often? What are normal maintenance costs?

Get online. Going to a dealership prepared will help you feel certain about what you’re looking for, and ultimately, about your purchase. Visit sites like AutoTrader.com to compare vehicles side by side, research prices, get a sense of the best vehicles for your lifestyle, look at videos and photos and access current inventory in your area. Researching cars by make, model, body style, etc. can help navigate you through all of the questions and concerns that are important to you.

New, used or certified pre-owned (CPO)? There are positive aspects of each of these; it’s up to you what works best for your current lifestyle.

• New – One of the best reasons to buy new is the new-car warranty. Warranty periods are typically at least three years or up to 36,000 miles and cover just about everything from bumper to bumper.
• Used – The most obvious advantage to buying a pre-owned car is that you can get a fantastic deal. Just be smart about it. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
• CPO – CPO cars are a happy medium. They’re typically two to three years old, have been reconditioned and come with some warranty protection. A CPO car will have a higher price tag than a similar non-CPO vehicle, but the warranty protection may make it worth it.

Photo credit: Asimulator

To learn more you can visit Autotrader.