Buying a car is a big determination and you should really give it some thought. When you are in the market of buying a car, there are a lot of options and choices. The prospective car buyer should ask themselves what kind of car they would like, or instead, what kind of car they require - and is it affordable.

There are a few questions you can ask yourself, that will help in your decision in purchasing a new car. Are you looking to just make your life a little better, or are you going for the flashy style or status symbol of an exotic car or sports car. Are you going to use it to carpool some youngsters around, or are you just going to use it to get to work? If you have a family, do you need the space that a van would give you? Are you looking for just a two-wheel drive car or an all wheel drive car?

- It’s a great idea to go over your budget and determine what you are able to spend on transportation every month. Another idea is to consider leasing a car, particularly if owning one is going to cost you more than 10% of your net income - so you should check your budget.

- The auto market is a really competitive market! It’s always a good idea to haggle with the dealerships. And definitely shop and compare car prices, especially on the internet.

- Remember the sticker price is not the final price. A lot of times, there are a lot of offers that the dealerships have in place that can save you some money on options or upgrades (like audio systems, low financing, etc). And remember to ask what, if any, other options will cost and what the final price will be. These options will surprise you by how much more they add to the final price.

- Trading your car in? Remember to get your own assessment of how much it’s worth now before you take the dealerships first offer.

- Compare new car prices. You should go to at least 3 dealerships to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

When you decide to buy a new or used car, you need to be sensible and practical. It doesn’t matter how great it looks or makes you feel, because you shouldn’t buy it based on emotion. You might not feel the same later on and may regret the decision.