Tips for First-Time Car Buyers

When it comes to this topic, App has seen it all — hundreds of customers, every credit score, every curveball. Here's what we've learned. ## Set your real budget (the 20/4/10 rule, explained) Let's break this one down. The short answer is that it depends on your situation, your budget, and what you plan to do with the vehicle. But there's a longer answer — the one that actually helps you make a good decision. We've walked through this exact conversation with customers every week for years. The pattern is always the same: the folks who ask the right questions up front are the ones who drive home happy. The ones who rush it tend to come back with buyer's remorse within 60 days. Slow down, ask, and let the numbers do the work. If you want to talk through this in person, our team at App is happy to walk the lot with you. No pressure, no 'today-only' games — just straight answers and the kind of advice you'd give a friend. ## Why pre-approval matters more than price shopping Let's break this one down. The short answer is that it depends on your situation, your budget, and what you plan to do with the vehicle. But there's a longer answer — the one that actually helps you make a good decision. We've walked through this exact conversation with customers every week for years. The pattern is always the same: the folks who ask the right questions up front are the ones who drive home happy. The ones who rush it tend to come back with buyer's remorse within 60 days. Slow down, ask, and let the numbers do the work. If you want to talk through this in person, our team at App is happy to walk the lot with you. No pressure, no 'today-only' games — just straight answers and the kind of advice you'd give a friend. ## The test drive: what to check in the first 60 seconds Let's break this one down. The short answer is that it depends on your situation, your budget, and what you plan to do with the vehicle. But there's a longer answer — the one that actually helps you make a good decision. We've walked through this exact conversation with customers every week for years. The pattern is always the same: the folks who ask the right questions up front are the ones who drive home happy. The ones who rush it tend to come back with buyer's remorse within 60 days. Slow down, ask, and let the numbers do the work. If you want to talk through this in person, our team at App is happy to walk the lot with you. No pressure, no 'today-only' games — just straight answers and the kind of advice you'd give a friend. ## Every fee a dealer CAN charge — and which ones are negotiable Let's break this one down. The short answer is that it depends on your situation, your budget, and what you plan to do with the vehicle. But there's a longer answer — the one that actually helps you make a good decision. We've walked through this exact conversation with customers every week for years. The pattern is always the same: the folks who ask the right questions up front are the ones who drive home happy. The ones who rush it tend to come back with buyer's remorse within 60 days. Slow down, ask, and let the numbers do the work. If you want to talk through this in person, our team at App is happy to walk the lot with you. No pressure, no 'today-only' games — just straight answers and the kind of advice you'd give a friend. ## The bottom line Buying or servicing a vehicle is one of the biggest decisions a family makes in any given year. Taking a few hours to research, test drive, and ask hard questions pays back many times over. And if you'd rather skip the homework and have someone you trust walk you through it — that's literally what we're here for. Stop by, give us a call, or message the live chat on this site. We'll make sure the next vehicle you drive is the right one.