To Buy A Car — Planning

: Beyond the purchase price, budget for insurance (get a quote early), fuel, maintenance, and registration fees.

How to Buy a New Car in Today’s Challenging, High-Priced Market planning to buy a car

Expert financial guides suggest focusing on the "total cost of ownership" rather than just the sticker price. : Beyond the purchase price, budget for insurance

: Consumer Reports recommends a down payment of at least 15%—ideally 20-25%—to avoid being "underwater" on a loan where you owe more than the car is worth. : Beyond the purchase price

: A common benchmark is to put 20% down , finance for no more than 3 years , and keep total car expenses under 8% of your monthly income .

Before committing to a used vehicle, perform these verification steps to avoid "lemons":