At GetApproved we believe that the process of buying a car doesn't have to be overwhelming. There are a lot of choices to make, and we're here to help you sift through the pros and cons of buying or leasing, help you identify a monthly payment plan that won't force you to live on ramen noodles, and make sure you get the most for your hard-earned dollars.

But first you need to ask yourself a few questions.

Sorting through these questions will help you focus on the car that's right for you.

The Auto Process


What about the car I've already got?

The possibilities are endless

  • You can keep it, fix it up, trade it in, sell it on your own, sell it on consignment or donate it to your favorite charity and write it off on next year's taxes. You can have it detailed, dress it up with leopard-print seat covers, a paint job and a new set of wheels. Let us help you figure out how long to keep your car before it turns into a money pit.

Know what it's worth

  • If you decide to sell, trade in or donate your car, then you're going to want to know just how valuable it really is. You may think it's priceless , but we can help you find out its objective value. One of the most utilized tools for both sellers and buyers is Kelley Blue Book. Just plug-in some fact about your car or the car you're looking to buy, and in seconds you'll be able to put a realistic dollar figure on its worth.

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What kind of car can I afford with what I have to spend?

We'll do the math

  • Before you run from dealer to dealer or visit a dozen people who put ads in your local paper it's important to find out what you can realistically spend on a car. That way, you'll know whether you can afford the CD changer in that sexy Miata or will have to forego the A/C in that reliable Honda. And it's not only the price of the car to consider, but in most states, you'll need auto insurance as well. We can give you an instant look at your range of possibilities.

We'll even figure out your monthly payment

  • Once you know what you want (or are willing to settle for), and what you can afford, if you're going to finance it, we can help you figure out your monthly payment

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Should I lease or should I buy?

  • Some think that if you lease you'll have nothing to show for your money when the term is up. Others might tell you that if you're considering buying, you could get a better return on the cash down payment by investing. There are pros and cons to both sides and we're here to help you make a decision that's right for you.

Learn "car talk," it'll help

  • Our Glossary will give you the lowdown on all the key terms and phrases used in the car leasing and sales market, knowing the jargon will help you talk the talk with the agent, and enable you to enter the sales floor with your head held high.

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Should I buy new or used?

  • Depends on whether you prefer "new car" smell to "used car" smell. Or, if it is about money, we can help you work through the decision with our easy worksheet.

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Now that you know whether you want to buy or lease, we'll help you take that next step.

How do I make the deal?

Making the deal can be the most exciting part of getting a car. First, do a little research and find out the fair market value of the car you want, the cost of the options (power windows, A/C, cup-holder, matching sunglasses), and now you're ready to showoff. For extra credit, we suggest:

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How will I know if I'm buying a lemon or not?

No need to squeeze and smell any longer -- there are some simple tests you can give your soon-to-be car to make sure it'll give you a good ride.

Checking Out a New or Used Car – will provide you with a checklist of tests. Troublesome Cars – will warn you about models with the worst repair histories. You can also avoid buying problem cars and verify a clean history with Carfax and if you want to take a new model for more than a 10 minute test drive, you can always try renting the model of your dreams.

It never hurts to talk to your trusted mechanic either. Mechanics repair cars all day, so they know which models they see more often. If you're really clever, you'll make a date for your mechanic to meet that used car of your dreams, before you buy it. They may often ‘put it up on the rack' for free, if you're a good customer. Even if they charge a small fee for a thorough inspection, it's worth it to sleep at night without hearing that oil drip.

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