Buying a car? What do you need to bring with you? Many people don’t know what they should take when it comes time to buy that new or used vehicle and often find themselves at the dealership without their driver’s license or insurance card in tow. 

With a new car purchase, you want to make sure that all the paperwork is in order and not neglected. However, with so much information out there about what needs for a vehicle transaction – it can be challenging to keep up-to-date on every detail. 

We have compiled some of the essential things to bring when buying a car. 

7 Things to Bring to the Dealership When Buying a New Car

It can be hard to remember everything from your wallet ID cards, the social security number on up even children have been known for forgetting theirs! So before heading out, your car buying checklist should consist of:

Your Driver’s License

Ensure you got a valid license as any dealership requires seeing it to confirm you are a legally licensed driver before you drive off in your new car. 

You’ll also want to perform a test drive before buying the car, and this you can’t do without a valid driving license.

Proof of Insurance

Is your car insured? If you’re buying a new one, make sure it’s covered! The state of insurance law in the US is varied and complicated. It will be best to call them beforehand to avoid delays when exchanging information with the dealer or registering as an owner.

Form of Payment

It’s essential to be prepared when doing business with a dealership. You should have your payment ready, whether that means cash or by way of check. If you’re using a loan from the dealer for financing, it might be best if you go there earlier to handle all relevant paperwork and finalize any arrangements before showtime!.

Recent Utility Bills

New utility bills are the ultimate proof of residence. They’re not just a way to pay for utilities but also a key component in proving your recent address change and making sure you don’t get taken advantage of at dealerships. These can be anything from gas, electricity, gas, water/sewage and garbage disposal, cable TV, internet, and phone services bills. 

Recent Pay Stubs

Most dealers request to see your recent pay stubs before approving you for financing. These can be things like recent copies of your paycheck, or even better yet – the original check. 

Discount Information

It’s important to make sure you have all the necessary information about your discount before making a purchase. You’ll want to take a look at the fine print of any promotion or deal that is offered while reading through slowly for comprehension purposes.

Buying a car from a dealer is not the easiest task. The initial investment may seem small, but it can go up to thousands of dollars more than what you would have paid if you invested your time and did your research. These are some helpful hints that will help save money when buying at the dealership: 

• Know about pricing online before going in- Have an idea on prices for comparable models so that there are no surprises later with sticker shock, especially since dealerships don’t always post their best price upfront or even show all their offers, which makes negotiating difficult without knowing beforehand how much other competing deals might be costing them. 
• Get a credit report for free! Ensure getting pre-approved loans before showing face.
• Ensure that you understand the financing variables and terms. Here check on a down payment, annual percentage rate, terms of the loan, and even the taxes and dealers fees.

A list of References

If your credit score is low and you are applying for a loan through the car dealership, consider supplying them with at least five references. Make sure to include people that have known you long enough or provide documentation of how well they know you so that it will be more convincing than someone who lives in an apartment complex next door from yours.

What to Bring When Buying a Used Car

Used cars are the more affordable option for many people, but this does not mean they should be taken lightly. A used car has no safety net and can cost you in ways that go beyond your wallet – like when it breaks down on the side of an icy highway with three kids inside! Make sure to check out what items might have been recalled before buying one off Craigslist.

If you’re buying a used car, it’s important to take care of the necessary paperwork before leaving. When you register your vehicle and title it at one of the Secretary Of State branches around the state will give you stickers that go on your license plate–some states might require additional documentation like proof-of-insurance or original receipts for major purchases (like an engine) to complete this process. This can be completed online as well.

If you are purchasing from another private party, then both parties have to check with their local branch office, where they’ll do some pretty standard things: transfer ownership onto new owners; provide registration information such as make/model info, color coding, and expiration date; fill out any remaining documents including warranty forms.

When you buy a used car from a subprime lender, be prepared to bring all of the paperwork your bank will need. You’ll need proof that you are able and ready for such an expensive purchase: income records, residency proofs (including phone bills), references lists, valid driver’s license with clean driving history (you can’t avoid going through this one!), and certificate of insurance.

Conclusion

When going through one of life’s most celebrated milestones- buying your first vehicle- make sure everything has been cared for. This will save you from major headaches down the road involving insurance claims, registration fees, or any number of other things which can be prevented by simply taking care before proceeding.

Your driver’s license and insurance card, vehicle registration information (if applicable), bank or credit-union checkbook if financing is necessary, proof of income such as your pay stubs or recent W2 form from work, are what you need to bring when buying a car. These documents provide all the essential personal and financial information that will be needed by the dealership representative in order to complete a car loan application on behalf of the buyer without having any other third party involved in this transaction.