ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Autos

    • Edmunds: The four biggest mistakes people make when buying a new car

    A prospective buyer looks over a 2025 Cooper S hardtop displayed at a Mini dealership on July 22, 2024, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) A prospective buyer looks over a 2025 Cooper S hardtop displayed at a Mini dealership on July 22, 2024, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
    Share

    Car buyers have more tools than ever to get the right vehicle at the right price. Still, mistakes can happen quite easily. Often, car buyers get blinded by emotion or rushed timing. Edmunds' experts reveal the four biggest mistakes car shoppers often make and offer tips to avoid them.

    Trading in a vehicle with negative equity

    Being upside down on a trade-in vehicle is occurring with increasing frequency. According to a recent Edmunds report, nearly one in four consumers who financed a new vehicle purchase with a trade-in during the second quarter of 2024 were underwater on their prior car loan.

    "Upside down," "underwater" and "negative equity" are interchangeable terms for a bad situation: All three mean that the car owner owes more on the loan than the vehicle is worth. Not only has the number of upside-down trade-ins grown since 2022, but so has the amount owed on those loans.

    If, for example, you are $5,000 upside down on your current vehicle and decide to trade in this car and buy a new one, you will have to pay the price of the new car plus the $5,000 you owe on the current car. Your monthly payments will be much higher because you're rolling over what you owe on your old car to the loan on your new one.

    The best financial solution is to keep your current car longer and continue paying off its loan. Waiting might be challenging -- you want that new car, we get it -- but if you can at least ensure your trade-in value equals your loan amount, you won't have to pay extra for the new vehicle purchase.

    Rushing into a vehicle purchase

    There can be legitimate reasons to expedite a vehicle purchase. Perhaps your vehicle was totaled in an accident, or maybe it broke down and it's not worth paying to fix. Either way, you'll need a new car right away. But many shoppers don't think about doing valuable research beforehand.

    There will be new and unfamiliar automotive features and technologies worth knowing about, especially if it's been a while since you bought a new car. If you take your time, you'll also be able to get several quotes before you commit to a deal and have time for a vehicle inspection if it's a used car.

    Even if you need to replace your car quickly, it's often better to find alternative transportation while you research a new vehicle purchase. Renting a car for a few days might cost a few hundred dollars, but that's better than picking the wrong vehicle or getting suckered into a bad deal.

    Going to only one dealership

    This mistake is often made by shoppers rushing to find a new vehicle. Be sure you give yourself time to make wise choices when you need a car quickly. Most price research can be done online or on your phone without leaving home. Avoid walking into a dealership and making a purchase decision without looking elsewhere.

    Dealers are in the habit of competing with one another, so be sure they're doing so to your advantage. Be transparent about your shopping, and share quotes with dealers so they know you're serious.

    Getting confused over dealership pricing

    Some shoppers will be overwhelmed by a salesperson throwing around lots of numbers including the asking price, trade-in value for your car, cash down and monthly payment. Though there are fewer dealers practicing confusion tactics than there used to be, it's good to be prepared to combat them should they arise.

    To start, do your research to determine the market value of the vehicle you want to buy before you begin to negotiate. This figure will serve as the backbone of your strategy and give you a reference point. From here, it's best to keep it simple and focus on two numbers: the out-the-door price of the car -- that's the sales price plus fees like tax and license -- and your trade-in value.

    Also watch out for potential add-ons that the dealership might use to boost its profit. These include anti-theft devices, additional warranties, paint and fabric protection, floor mats, wheel locks and more. You can likely negotiate the price of the add-ons but it might distract you from your primary goal of getting the best deal on the vehicle itself. Purchasing a car without add-ons is the best way to avoid the situation.

    Edmunds says

    Taking a little more time to consider all the options and think carefully about the terms of a car deal may save you thousands. It's time -- and money -- well spent.

    This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds

    Josh Jacquot is a contributor at Edmunds

    CTVNews.ca ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

    Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is expected to be sentenced for his sexual assault convictions today, after multiple delays in the case that have stretched for months.

    Charred stumps and the remains of fire-ravaged trees still cover large tracts of land on the Jasper landscape, but life is returning quickly down below.

    Trial begins over Texas 'Trump Train' highway confrontation

    A federal trial is set to begin Monday over claims that supporters of former U.S. president Donald Trump threatened and harassed a Biden-Harris campaign bus in Texas four years ago, disrupting the campaign on the last day of early voting.

    video

    video

    Heather Appleton just renewed her passport for another ten years. “I’m not checking out yet,†said Appleton, 61, who has the incurable cancer, Multiple Myeloma.

    Canada

    • Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is expected to be sentenced for his sexual assault convictions today, after multiple delays in the case that have stretched for months.

    • Around 50 people participated in Sunday's annual Kidney Walk in Barrie to raise awareness and funds for kidney health, including a wife who donated a kidney to her husband.

    • video

      video

      Heather Appleton just renewed her passport for another ten years. “I’m not checking out yet,†said Appleton, 61, who has the incurable cancer, Multiple Myeloma.

    • A 12-year-old collie was killed by three pit bulls in the B.C. Interior Sunday morning, according to authorities.

    • Mounties in Northern B.C. have set up a dedicated tip line as part of their ongoing investigation into the disappearance of an Indigenous woman two months ago.

    • Quebec provincial police (SQ) handed out over $15,000 in a two-day span to a series of drivers who were caught speeding and street racing on highways, including some that were construction zones.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    • Nearly two-dozen drivers were caught in a speed trap outside a Vancouver elementary school on Thursday – as students were settling back into their daily routines.

    • An Ontario man said he couldn't believe an electric car he bought three years ago for $20,000 would need a new battery at a cost of more than $33,000.

    Local Spotlight

    Mary Grace Rico is seeking help in getting treatment for a rare spinal condition.

    Swimmer Nicholas Bennett and para canoeist Brianna Hennessy have been named Canada's flag-bearers for Sunday's closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in Paris.

    Halifax resident Tucker Bottomley started feeling the painful effects of rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 21.

    Roger Barker was looking forward to exchanging a book at one of the Little Free Libraries that had been erected in his neighbourhood, until he found it vandalized.

    You never know what you might find in your doorbell camera footage...

    Brenda Tremblay has been an avid gardener for the last 40 years, but this year’s harvest in Colpitts Settlement, N.B., is a tough nut to crack.

    A group of seniors in Ontario is offering their time and experience as parents struggle to find reliable child care spaces.

    Saskatchewan man Clyde Hall has been collecting and restoring antique farm equipment for five decades. He's now ready to part with his collection.

    An Ottawa man has won the $3.8 million prize in the 'Catch the Ace' draw in Maniwaki, Que. Local radio station CHGA 97.3 has been playing their version of 'Catch the Ace' for nearly a year without a winner.

    • An attempted break-in to a Metro Vancouver business was caught on camera this weekend, leaving the owner with a terrifying sense of déjà vu.

    • The "volume and severity" of complaints against a B.C. condo owner for violating building bylaws were sufficient to justify hiring a lawyer to handle them, a tribunal has ruled, dismissing the man's bid to be let off the hook for $15,000 in legal fees.

    • Metro Vancouver has been under hazy skies due to wildfire smoke wafting into the region from the U.S, but conditions are expected to change Monday.

    • Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard is expected to be sentenced for his sexual assault convictions today, after multiple delays in the case that have stretched for months.

    • A man has been rushed to hospital in life-threatening condition after he was reportedly struck by a vehicle in North York, Toronto police say.

    • JUST IN

      JUST IN

      Police are investigating a smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store in Mississauga.

    • Cher, Anthony Hopkins, Heath Ledger, Alec Baldwin and Tom Hardy are just a few of the celebrities John Cumming met while growing up in his family's military surplus store.

    • Some Jasperites have moved back to their community and tourists are being allowed in, but efforts to rebuild the third of the town that was destroyed by July’s wildfire remains the priority.

    • Calgary water consumption ddropped Saturday to 496 million litres, a dip of nine million litres from Friday’s 505 million.

    • Starting Monday, Sept. 9, federal employees in the core public administration will be required to be in the office a minimum of three days a week, and executives will need to be on-site a minimum of four days a week.

    • A week of sunny and hot temperatures are in the forecast for Ottawa this week, with temperatures set to warm up to the high 20s by Thursday.

    • The Ottawa Senators' annual charity event to raise funds to support mental health initiatives for children and youth is coming back Monday.

    • Unions trying to organize at Amazon workplaces across Canada are facing a series of hurdles, including legal challenges and alleged anti-union tactics from the e-commerce giant.

    • A man in his 20s was the target of gunfire in Longueuil, on Montreal's South Shore.

    • Public transit services are expected to be disrupted this week in Sherbrooke, Que. as bus drivers exercise a strike mandate for four hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

    • At the end of a side street in Slave Lake, Alta., Lynn Bowes looks at a grey job-site trailer with boarded-up windows and doors that once operated as her town's only homeless shelter.

    • Charred stumps and the remains of fire-ravaged trees still cover large tracts of land on the Jasper landscape, but life is returning quickly down below.

    • Mounties say a man who went missing while hiking Saturday west of Grande Prairie was found safe Sunday night.

    • The first residents of the 32 new affordable homes for women and their children in Dartmouth, N.S., have moved in, with more to follow in the coming weeks.

    • Three Halifax Regional Municipality councillors will not be running for reelection in October.

    • Indigenous leaders came together Saturday to honour the life and legacy of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick.

    • More than 300 people laced up their walking shoes Sunday for the 21st annual Walk of Hope for ovarian cancer in Winnipeg’s Kildonan Park.

    • A 23-year-old Winnipeg man is facing charges after he was found in possession of a loaded zip gun during a traffic stop by police.

    • Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response (SIRT) is investigating after a man died as a result of police action on Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

    • Regina's annual Queen City Marathon took place on Sunday, and it attracted quite the crowd. The start and finish line at the Conexus Arts Centre hosted people of all skill levels looking to try their hand at a race.

    • The second Sunday in September has been a solemn day at the RCMP's Depot Division in Regina since 1935.

    • According to police, during a traffic stop in Waterloo, officers noticed firearms and ammunition inside the vehicle.

    • Faye Dzikewich continues to fight for answers for her 36-year-old son, who died after spending the night in an Ontario Provincial Police cell in Rockwood, Ont.

    • More than a dozen vehicles have been stolen from Cambridge since mid-August.

    • Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response (SIRT) is investigating after a man died as a result of police action on Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

    • Online fundraisers have been launched to support the victims of an incident that saw a student set on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate on Thursday.

    • Three years have gone by since the death of nine-year-old Baeleigh Maurice at the intersection of 33rd St. W. and Avenue G. Three years marked by court dates, committee meetings, and pleas to the city to improve safety conditions.

    • Ontario Provincial Police say a 54-year-old novice driver was travelling with drugs and without a required ignition interlock device or a qualified driver in the vehicle when it ended up in the ditch off Highway 11 last month, leading to multiple charges including impaired driving.

    • According to police, during a traffic stop in Waterloo, officers noticed firearms and ammunition inside the vehicle.

    • Owen Sound police are searching for witnesses after a pedestrian was dragged by a vehicle.

    • video

      video

      Heather Appleton just renewed her passport for another ten years. “I’m not checking out yet,†said Appleton, 61, who has the incurable cancer, Multiple Myeloma.

    • Sarnia police officers have arrested two suspects after a break and enter investigation.

    • Familiar faces were brought back together as more than a hundred CKVR alumni gathered at Donaleigh's Irish Public House Saturday night for a special reunion.

    • A Saturday evening fire in the Town of the Blue Mountains caused significant damage at a residential chalet near the ski resort.

    • Fire crews responded to a fire at Berczy Park in Barrie early Sunday morning, where a group of people using the area as a campground received a three-day eviction notice from the City earlier this week.

    • Windsor fire was on scene of a blaze at a former school on Norman Road Sunday afternoon.

    • One person has died following a collision Saturday night.

    • The Essex County OPP have laid charges following a single vehicle collision and car fire.

    • A 12-year-old collie was killed by three pit bulls in the B.C. Interior Sunday morning, according to authorities.

    • The "volume and severity" of complaints against a B.C. condo owner for violating building bylaws were sufficient to justify hiring a lawyer to handle them, a tribunal has ruled, dismissing the man's bid to be let off the hook for $15,000 in legal fees.

    • Mounties in Northern B.C. have set up a dedicated tip line as part of their ongoing investigation into the disappearance of an Indigenous woman two months ago.

    • A 12-year-old collie was killed by three pit bulls in the B.C. Interior Sunday morning, according to authorities.

    • Mounties in northwestern B.C. say they have arrested the suspect in a fatal shooting almost exactly a year after it occurred.

    • A man has now been charged for his alleged role in a hit-and-run that killed a teenager in Kelowna, B.C., last fall.

    • Rob Miyashiro was selected as the NDP candidate in Lethbridge-West Saturday to replace MLA Shannon Phillips.

    • It’s been just over a week since the federal government banned nicotine pouches from being sold anywhere other than a pharmacy.

    • A more inclusive and welcoming land acknowledgment has been released by the City of Lethbridge.

    • A Montreal-based power pop band with strong ties to northern Ontario is kicking off its new tour in North Bay at the end of the month followed by three other northern stops.

    • Another politician has added his voice to the call to have the timeline to build a new bridge in Little Current to connect Manitoulin Island to the mainland sped up.

    • A family dispute exploded in Elliot Lake on Thursday, end in charges for one individual.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow CTV News