First Time Buying a Car?
Tradition Wants to Make Your Life Better. That's the Tradition Difference.

First-Time Car Owners Save Money at Tradition Chevrolet in Geneva, NY

To help first-time shoppers, we offer savings on many of our top models. Keep reading to learn more.

1. What's your budget?

Consider how much you can afford each month. Calculate your currently monthly expenses, including living costs, personal costs, and other budget concerns (those student loans!) Don't forget that the cost of a car isn't limited to the payment, but will also include auto insurance and any maintenance not covered by a warranty ( learn more about GM's maintenance program with every new car purchase ). When it comes to financing, you can assume $25/month for 48 months for every $1000 you borrow, or $20/month with 60-month financing. Scale it up to the cost of a car, and you may be looking at around $250/month for every $10,000 you borrow. Schedule a meeting with our finance advisors to learn about your options!

2. What are your needs and wants?

This is where you'll need to think seriously about your current habits! Are you commuting an hour or more every day? Or will you mostly use the car only to take the occasional long-distance trip? What is the primary purpose for your vehicle -- will you be the only person in it most of the time, or will you have frequent passengers? Thinking back to step #1, consider how far you'll drive every day and how much you can afford to spend on gas. Don't forget to check out vehicles with good fuel economy! Of course, you will also have wants: what is important to you in terms of style, company philosophy, service quality, or comfort? This is a good time to use your own network. Ask friends or family members what they have liked or disliked about vehicles, especially if they happen to drive a model you're looking at.

3. Do the research

There are plenty of great websites to use to research your model of interest -- Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com, and many others can help you. Of course, the websites of manufacturers you may be interested in can help as well. But did you know that you can find model information right on your dealer's website? Use our Model Showroom to find information about available trims, view images of exterior paint colors and interior finishes, and more.Once you've narrowed it down to a few top choices, schedule a test drive! There's no better way to find out if a vehicle is right for you. The best way to test-drive a vehicle is to take it on road conditions you'll probably see when using it (within reason), so ask your salesperson to direct you through a route that will include stop-and-go conditions as well as some freeway driving. This applies to new and used vehicles -- try to spend at least half an hour with a vehicle you are seriously considering.

4. How will you pay?

Just like the first step is about your budget, the last step before making your purchase is also about your budget. Now that you have a specific vehicle in mind and know the estimated cost, make sure that you know your credit history and have a realistic expectation of the terms you are likely to get. Talk to your bank, credit union, or even insurance provider to get some quotes and an idea of what you can afford to pay, and compare those to the options that you are given at the dealership.

5. Enjoy your vehicle!

The most important step is, of course, to drive your new vehicle home!