It is a common rule that very few people actually enjoy spending time in a car dealership when buying a new car. It is easy to walk away feeling taken advantage of or feeling just a tad bit slimy for spending hours haggling and negotiating over the best price. However, there are ways to avoid dealer scams when you buy a new car.

First, before you walk into a showroom, know what your credit score is from all three credit reporting agencies. This will give you leverage if the dealership tries to tell you that you cannot qualify for certain loans.

Next, manage the entire car buying process from the new car price, to the financing, to what you are receiving for a trade-in. Do not just investigate one area without looking into the others as it is completely possible to win on the new car price, but get taken advantage of by the dealer on the trade-in value of your car.

Finally, and this is most important. Do not allow a dealer to say, “How much can you pay for this car each month?” Many times, the dealer can get creative with payment terms and financing with the hope that you will not read between the lines. Always answer that question with the statement of how much you can afford to pay for the TOTAL cost of the car.

At the end of the day, the dealership never wants you to walk out empty handed. However, if you are wise, you can beat them at their own game, and not only walk away with a brand new car, but also the best deal possible.