6 Things You Should Have Before You Head to the Car Dealership

Dealerships will only sell vehicles to people who can drive. That means you need to bring a valid driver’s license to the car lot. Without a license, the dealership can only show you options. It can’t even let you test drive a car.

You also need to bring proof of insurance. Ideally, you already know what kind of car you want to buy. When you know that, you can talk to your insurance company ahead of time about the level of coverage you need. Then, you can finish buying your insurance policy immediately before purchasing your new car.

Few people can afford to buy a car without financing. Most dealerships have funding options that they get from local and national lenders. You can also talk to your bank about borrowing money to buy your car.

If you choose to get financing through the dealership, you will need some documents that show you’re not a risk.

Most dealers will want to see:

• Recent pay stubs (bring at least 3 months of them)
• Bank statements (again, bring 3 months of statements)
• Your credit report
• Your credit score

These documents show the dealership that you have enough money to make monthly payments. Assuming that you have good credit, the documents could also help you secure a low-interest loan that makes buying a car more affordable. Know where your credit stands before heading to the dealership. .

Before you head to the car dealership, make sure you have:

• Your license
• Proof of insurance
• Pay stubs
• Bank statements
• Your credit report
• Your credit score

If you have those items, you should find that buying a new or used car takes less time. Some dealers may want other items, too. It never hurts to call ahead to make sure you have the documents that the seller wants to see.