Shopping for the right car can be tricky and time-consuming. Dealerships, especially, can be draining and intimidating at the best of times. However, there are some tips and tricks that can help you feel more prepared and comfortable when heading to the dealership to purchase your sweet new ride. Keep reading to learn more about 5 of these terrific tips:

1. Know what you want

When visiting a car dealership, it’s good to know what you want. That way, you can avoid making yourself a target for sales pitches that urge you to drive away with a brand new car after only visiting a single dealership. Beginning with online research is always best—looking at cost and feature comparisons, expert reviews, personal finance costs, and what’s available on the market are all good places to start. With some dealerships, you can even negotiate prices online before visiting. In short, always have at least a general idea of what you’re looking for before you physically head on over to the dealership.

2. Don’t buy any add-ons at the dealership

Dealerships make a lot of money off of selling overpriced add-ons—such as tire protection plans, extended warranties, and more—near the end of your visit. Due to the possibility of plenty of these add-ons being marked up, it’s recommended that you say no to everything to avoid costs piling up.

3. Consider purchasing a used car

These days, plenty of used cars are in good condition after coming off of three-year leases—or leases that are even longer than that. Thus, it might be a good idea to consider purchasing a used car, especially if you need to save money. After all, people are buying cars with a hundred-thousand miles on them and are still able to drive them for another hundred-thousand miles. If you’re a person who doesn’t see the need for a brand new car, finding a reliable used car might be in your best interest!

4. Factor in insurance costs

Unfortunately, many individuals suffer the fate of finding a terrific car that works well with their monthly budget, only to discover that the insurance costs are much higher than anticipated. Thus, it’s a good idea to check the rate on the cars that you’re looking at with your insurer and competitors prior to visiting the dealership. This way, you can be prepared—plus, you might be able to save money by choosing a similar car that costs less to insure.

5. Come up with a monthly payment budget

Knowing your monthly payment budget will help you to finance properly and choose a car that’s right for you. However, making this budget the basis of negotiation or sharing your budget with the sales staff are not good ideas: unfortunately, a dealer who is aware of your budgeting may offer you tempting financing deals or leases that will have you paying more in the long run. Thus, while having a monthly payment budget is important, it’s better to first negotiate the actual sales price of the car that you’re interested in.