Car Buying Advice

Step-by-step: Buying a new car

Not sure where to start? Whether you are looking for a fuel-efficient small car, a sporty convertible, or a family minivan, Consumer Reports can help guide you through the new car buying experience. We give you the essential information you need to choose, buy, finance, and maintain a new car. Also, see our used car guide.

Choosing a car:
In this section

Next section:

At the dealership

Pick the right model

By now, you know your price range and the type of vehicle that interests you, and you've used the tools and comparison charts to begin jotting down a list of the models that meet these requirements. Now, it's time to narrow the candidates to a few promising models that are worth spending the time to test drive.

To do this, gather as much information as you can about each vehicle so you can compare them in several important areas, such as driving experience, reliability, fuel economy, safety, features, and owner experiences.

A key to quick and efficient auto research is knowing where to go and how to evaluate the information you get. By going to the Internet, you can gather what you need in a few hours. But just as cars can vary greatly in quality, so can sources of information.

Last reviewed: February 2011

Next: Model reviews