Hopefully, you've never been in an emergency car shopping situation, but the truth is, this type of thing happens every day. I drove around an old car with tons of miles and constant oil problems, and while I was happy that I had a car to drive, I knew that I needed something newer, safer, and more reliable for my family. My husband and I made the decision that we were going to start looking at cars last summer, and once we found something we thought might be suitable for our family and work with our budget, the entire car buying process happened almost overnight, and hours later, I was sitting pretty in my new luxury sedan. It almost seemed too good to be true, but when the stars align, it's best to follow their lead.



If you wind up in my former situation and need to buy a car in a hurry, here are a few things to consider:

Don't be overly choosy.
The biggest thing that I had to compromise on when I purchased my newest vehicle was cosmetics and interior features. The car color wasn't one that I would have chosen for myself- I'm a black or silver car girl, and wound up with a deep blue car, which as it turns out, I now love. I sacrificed the sunroof but gained leather seats. Don't be disappointed if every single thing on your wishlist isn't available. You can still wind up with a car you absolutely love.

The dealership wants to sell you what they have on the lot.
For the most part, dealerships want to move the inventory they have on the lot at the time you're there to make your purchase. If possible, they want to make a same-day sale and send you off the lot with a new to you car. Don't be shy about sharing your wishlist with the sales representative. They will do their absolute best to help you find what you're looking for and stay within your budget.

Opt for preapproval if financing.
One of the best things my husband and I did while we were car shopping to get our loan pre-approved for our car before we even visited the lot to look at the car we wanted in person. This completely streamlined our car-buying process and saved us so much time when we went to the dealership to make our purchase.

Don't let pushy sales staff scare you.
Just like we all have deadlines and goals in our day to day jobs, car sales team members do, too. Depending on what time of the month you head to the lot to buy a car, you may experience a more relaxed vibe vs. a high-pressure one. Toward the end of the month, sales staff are doing their best to meet monthly quotas. If you can steer your car purchase toward the middle of the month when there is less pressure on sales staff, you might feel less pressured to make a purchase, as well.

Shop smarter- avoid the weekend.
While it may fit better with your schedule to visit a car lot on the weekend, that's probably one of the worst days of the week to try to buy a car. Most everyone else who is car shopping will also be out searching for deals on Saturdays, and sales reps will be busier than the other days of the week. If you're able to take some time during the week to shop around, you'll probably wind up with a low-pressure experience, and a sales person's full attention.

Don't forget to do your research before you get to the lot! Shopping online makes it so easy to narrow down your options and make a smart and informed decision once you get to the lot.

Brought to you by Miller's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.