Car Buying Tips

by Dean Evans

As the resident gay car geeks, we often get questions from friends, family and even strangers about the car buying process. With that in mind, we’ve put together a few steps to make the process easier and of course, more gay friendly!

Step 1: Decide which car or truck you want

If you have gotten this far, you most likely have a vehicle in mind. If not, read our reviews to see what our writers have to say about the latest cars to hit the street or research vehicles in our New Vehicle section.

Then check out the gay-friendly factor for the brand you are considering. We encourage you to vote with your checkbook and buy from gay-friendly manufacturers!

Step 2: Get a quote from a dealer

Once you’ve figured out what you want, the best way to begin the negotiation process is request a quote from a dealer near you. You can tell them exactly what you are looking for and a preferred dealer in your area will get in touch to give you a free no-obligation quote. Keep the conversation going via email until you get to a price you are comfortable with. Then, print it out and take it with you to the dealer. They cannot argue with a price that is on paper.

If you are a negotiator by nature, feel free to call the dealers back and talk to them and schedule an appointment for a test drive. The driving is half the fun. And in most cases when you go through and Internet sales person, they are usually more professional and straight forward to deal with. They are usually not the, “go check with my manager” type sales reps

Step 3: Figure out how much the insurance is going to cost you

Something people usually forget to consider when they are calculating the cost of a new car is the insurance. Depending on where you live, this can be quite a bit more additional outlay every month. Before you go to the dealer, get a free insurance quote to make sure the insurance on that hot new ride won’t blow your budget.

Step 4: Get financing BEFORE you go to the dealer

You’ve found your car, got a fair price online and lined up your insurance. You are now ready to buy your new gay-friendly car but you still need a way to pay. Get your financing online before you go to the dealer. It saves time, you can get a better rate and arriving with a PowerCheck® from E-LOAN is like walking into a dealer with cash. You’ll have the upper hand when signing on the bottom line.

Step 5: Enjoy your new ride!