Buying a car online can be easy with these simple steps. Many dealerships are offering online shopping options to make it easier to buy a car from your couch.

Some dealerships are adding new online digital platforms that allow consumers to select a model, trim level, color, options, get approved for financing, and even negotiate the prices of trade-ins. Car Gurus, Vroom, Carvana and others are other options for used vehicles.

Here are some of the steps to take when car shopping from your computer.

Drivers have easy access to an immense amount of information online to make the buying process, trade-in values, financing, incentives, inventory, expert ratings, and user reviews. This information will give you Car Smarts.

1.) Budget

Your first step should be determining how much you can afford to spend. This includes calculating such things as fuel costs, interest and car insurance, as well as identifying how much of a down payment. All of these factors calculate into your monthly costs. Buyers with higher credit scores are offered more competitive interest rates..

Car Smarts Tip: Make at least a 20 percent down payment and spend no more than 10 percent of your monthly budget for all vehicle expenses, including maintenance and insurance.

2.) Loan

To get the best deal on a car loan, look at credit unions, online banks, the dealer and your bank to get the best offer. Getting preapproved by a lender will help you shop for what makes sense for you. When you’ve agreed on a price, show the dealer your financing and ask if they can beat that rate. Sometimes dealers offer manufacturer-sponsored financing, which could save you money.

3.) Finding the right car

Most people use the internet to determine what type of car they want and find out as much as possible about the make, model and options. I recommend you see a vehicle in person and test drive it before signing a sales contract.

4.) Research the value of your trade

Knowing the value of your trade is critical and the if the dealer offers you a low price. Search websites like Kelley Blue Book to determine the value of your used car. Prices vary based on the age, features, mileage, location and condition. There are a few ways to sell your used car.

1. Trade in your used vehicle at the dealership where you are buying the car. This will give you tax credit on the next vehicle.

2. Sell it yourself privately for on Facebook Market, Craigslist, eBay for cash.

3. Sell to a used-car dealer such as CarMax or another local dealer.

Car Smarts Tip: Don’t take the first offer and trade in your used car at the dealership, where you’ll most likely get the lowest amount for it. Plenty of sites will buy your trade, like Vroom, CarMax, and Carvana to name a few. Having another offer from one of these companies is a good negotiating tool to hold over a dealership’s head. The dealership should most likely offer more.

5.) Contact local dealerships for price quotes

Once your online research is complete, contact dealerships for online price quotes. Be as specific as you can with make, model and options, and ask several dealerships for their best offers. Many dealerships will sell you a car at sticker price while others add on a marketing adjustment fee or ADM. Ask if you order a car will there be this additional fee. If there’s a markup, look at other dealers who don’t charge extra fees.

6.) The online price haggle

In today shortage of cars with new and used, it hard to negotiate the price and incentives barely exist. You can negotiate the dealer fees, and avoid the extra add-ons. Never offer your monthly payment budget to a salesperson. That allows the dealer to pack whatever they can into your quoted payment and still meet your budget. Don’t mention your trade-in or any financing at first. These variables give the salesperson leverage in negotiations. Stay focused on the actual price of the vehicle then you can discuss trade ins.

7.) Sign and drive

You may still have to visit the dealership to finalize the bill of sale, sign any required financing paperwork and pick up your keys and the vehicle. Many dealerships are now delivering cars and paperwork right to your driveway. Take the time to look over the final contract carefully. Check all of the numbers and ask for explanations of any additional charges or documentation for fees that look questionable before you sign any paperwork. The finance and insurance managers will try to sell you options and add-ons. That’s their job. You can always add these later if you need them, don’t be pressured to buy them and increase your payments.

The Bottom Line

Buying a car online or doing the majority of the work before visiting a dealer can save you time and money. There is an abundance of information available on the internet, taking advantage of it can reduce the stress of negotiating a price of your next car.

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Lauren Fix, The Car Coach® is a nationally recognized automotive expert, media guest, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and safety issues for both the auto industry and consumers. Her analysis is honest and straightforward.

Lauren is the National Automotive Correspondent for Newsmax TV, a conservative news net carried in 23 countries and in over 35 million U.S. cable/satellite homes. She is also The Weather Channel and Inside Edition’s auto expert. Lauren Fix serves as a juror for the esteemed North American Car & Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY).

Lauren is The Car Coach columnist for Parade Magazine and eBay Motors and writes a weekly column. She also appears weekly on USA Radio’s DayBreak USA.
Lauren is the president and founder of Automotive Aspects, Inc., a consulting firm with a wide range of multi-media services, including media consulting, broadcast messaging strategy, public relations and television production.

Lauren is the author of three books: most recently, Lauren Fix’s Guide To Loving Your Car with St. Martins Press, Driving Ambitions: A Complete Guide to Amateur Auto Racing, and The Performance Tire and Wheel Handbook.

Lauren’s broadcast experience includes Oprah, Live! With Regis and Kelly, The View, TODAY, 20/20, The Early Show, CNN, FOX News, FOX Business, MSNBC, HLN, TBS Makeover and a Movie, Inside Edition, ESPN, TBS, Discovery, Speed and NPR, to name a few. Lauren previously hosted four seasons of Talk 2 DIY Automotive on the Do-It-Yourself Network (DIY), was the National Automotive Correspondent for Time Warner Cable and hosted Female Driven on Lifetime TV.
Lauren’s articles and advice have appeared in USA Today, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, eBay, Woman’s World, Esquire, First for Women, InTouch and Self. She has also contributed content to Motor Trend, Truck Trend, Hot Rod, Car Craft and many other automotive publications.

Lauren is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA) and is an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified technician. She inherited her love of all things automotive from her father, who owned a brake remanufacturing business and worked for many U.S. manufacturers. Lauren has been fixing, restoring and racing cars since the age of ten. She has been advising drivers almost all her life.

In addition to being a leader in positive consumer awareness and the automotive industry, Lauren is often asked to speak to groups around the world about her success in marketing, motivation, entrepreneurship, parenting and other lifestyle topics.

Lauren was named the 2015 WIN Award, 2013 SEMA Business Network “Mentor of The Year”; SEMA Business Network 2012 Woman of the Year; and awarded various Car Care Council “Automotive Communications Awards” in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Past awards include 2008 Automotive Woman Of The Year and 2010 Woman of Distinction – Entrepreneur winner. Lauren Fix was inducted into the National Women and Transportation Hall of Fame in 2009 – a very high honor for a hard working automotive professional.