For most people, buying a new car can be an exciting prospect – but it can also be stressful. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start, or how to determine what type of car is going to be right for you. Add in the fact that there have been global supply chain shortages, making the availability of new cars on the lot more difficult, and higher used car prices.

Fortunately, with a few tips and tricks, you can navigate both sides of this process like a pro and drive away with a new or new-to-you car that’s perfect for your needs.

Consider your finances

Above all else when buying a car, you need to think about the financial side of things. Don’t only think about the down payment on a car, but also consider the monthly expenses – the actual car payment as well as maintenance costs. How much are you planning to drive the vehicle? Gas prices may also be a consideration – look at miles per gallon, and total costs of a gas vs. electric vehicle.

If you’re a teenager or recent graduate, then you may need a parent or guardian to cosign a loan as you may lack a credit history.

New, or new-to-you?

One way to save costs when purchasing a vehicle is to choose a used car over a new one. There are pros and cons to each of these options.

With used cars, the cost may be lower – both in the purchase price and insurance payments. There’s more variety to peruse when shopping, as you’re not tied to a particular year or model, and you can sometimes get high-end finishes or features at a lower price point.

New cars tend to have lower maintenance costs and better fuel efficiency. Additionally, maintenance may be covered under warranty for at least a year.

Getting rid of a car

You may be replacing an older car in this process. While it’s time to say “goodbye” to your current ride, it may still have life left on the road or as parts. Here are options if you’re looking to get rid of a car.

Option 1: Sell it

If you’re looking to make money on your vehicle but aren’t looking to replace it with a new (or new-to-you) car right away, selling may be your best option. You can:

• Sell it to a dealership: This is often the fastest and easiest way to get rid of a car. To sell your car to a dealership, contact a dealership that sells your make and see if they’re willing to make you an offer. Used cars are scarce right now, and your vehicle may be worth more than you originally planned. Do your research beforehand online to better know your car’s current worth for negotiating power and consider asking multiple dealerships for quotes.
  
  If you ARE looking to replace your current ride right away, you can also trade in your vehicle with the dealership. Then, apply the funds from your current car towards a new one. However, this option may only exist if the dealer you’re working with sells your make of car or has similar cars on the lot. You can always ask about trade-in offers and refuse them if the offer isn’t what you expected.

• Sell it yourself. This route requires more work, but it can pay off – literally. It’s common now for people to sell their own cars online or through social media. If you decide to sell it yourself, be sure to get the car cleaned and professionally detailed and have the car’s history ready to show any potential buyers.

Option 2: Donate it

A donation is another option if you simply want to get rid of a car quickly. Many nonprofit organizations will accept car donations, and some will even retrieve the car for you. While you won’t get paid for this, you can claim the donation on your taxes.

Depending on the charity, you can even donate a car after an accident – including if it’s totaled. Be sure to research charities you’re interested in to see what they’re willing to accept, then contact them to sort out details.

Option 3: Trash it

Finally, if all else fails and you need to get rid of a car, you can junk it. This may make sense if your car is totaled or needs many repairs to become functional. Contact local junkyards to see how to get the car to them, and if they would be willing to give you any money for your vehicle.

Whether you’re looking to sell an old car or purchase a new vehicle, one of the best things you can do as a car owner is to take good care of it. Schedule both regular maintenance and any repairs by finding your local repair shop on Carwise: carwise.com/auto-body-shops

Many of the features on newer cars are enabled by highly technical computer systems, which the industry refers to as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). You likely have a car with ADAS already – these include items like sensors in your bumper that alerts you when you get too close to something, a lane departure warning or a light that comes on if your passenger-side airbag is enabled.

When you get into an accident, these systems can often also be a part of the damage – even if you can’t see it. To understand if any of those important safety systems were affected, your repairer may run a “diagnostic scan” and/or “calibration.” These two actions act as a system check to ensure that all your car’s systems are working properly and help return your vehicle to pre-accident condition.

What are Diagnostic Scans?

Think of a diagnostic scan, or just simply “scans,” as a health check for your car. A repair technician will take a scanning device (which looks like a voltmeter, or a large remote control) and plug it into your vehicle near the steering wheel. This diagnostic tool can then look at all the systems in your specific car, and let the repairer know which systems have errors that need to be addressed.

Typically, your car will have two scans completed on it: one before the repair to let the shop know which systems have issues that need to be addressed, and one after the repair to make sure that every problem has been fixed.

An important note, lots of manufacturers now require at least one scan on a vehicle if it’s been in an accident.

What are Calibrations?

Your car may also be “calibrated” when it’s in the shop. Think of this like a chiropractor visit for your car. They’re checking to make sure all the systems are working properly and “aligned” as they should and adjusted if needed.

Even if you’ve been in a low-speed accident, systems like cameras can still get jostled around. For example, the shop may recalibrate your backup camera, which beeps if you get too close to an object. If your backup camera isn’t calibrated correctly, even by a millimeter, it can translate to you hitting something behind you since the car didn’t realize how close you were, nor was it able to correctly notify you.

To see if these systems are set correctly, your repair shop may perform one of two types of calibrations:

• Static: A calibration is done by putting your car on a level surface and measuring specific aspects using tools like laser levels. The process is looking to see if your car’s elements meet the manufacturer targets, down to the millimeter or fractions of a degree.
• Dynamic: If static calibrations involve a car in park, dynamic calibrations mean your vehicle is in motion when being tested. The shop will likely take your car out on a busy road to verify that systems are working as they should.

Diagnostic scans and calibrations are part of the process to get you back on the road. If your car has been in an accident, or if something feels off, find a local autobody shop to help scan and calibrate: carwise.com/auto-body-shops.  

Winter is here – and with winter can come more hazardous road conditions, depending upon where you live. Between snow, ice, and sleet, the roads can become quite slippery, making driving for any amount of time extra treacherous.

What are snow/winter tires?

One option to increase your safety on the road in winter is to opt for snow, or winter, tires.

Winter tires have special, high-tech rubber compounds that maintain greater flexibility even in very cold temperatures. They also have special, deep tread designs that allow for superior gripping on roads covered in snow or ice. With all these extra features, snow tires provide traction where normal, all-season tires might slip and slide.

Drivers who live in climates that routinely stay under 40 degrees in winter for several months at a time should consider snow tires. Additionally, if you often drive in the mountains or off-road for winter activities or other events, you should also consider swapping out for winter tires.

Some high-end vehicles may come equipped with “summer tires” which need to be swapped out when the seasons change. Winter tires should be used once the weather is consistently under 45 degrees. They are then swapped back out when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees in the spring.

Potential cost of snow tires, and alternatives

Snow tires can be expensive, which may discourage some drivers. If you don’t often see snow or live in a warmer climate, they probably aren’t necessary. Instead, you can opt to keep tire chains in your car in case you need them. If you choose to use tire chains, make sure you purchase ones for use with your specific make and model, and also be sure you know how to use them before the first snowfall.

Additionally, there can be charges associated with swapping tires from summer to winter sets. One way to save costs long-term is to consider purchasing a separate set of wheels to house the snow tires. Then, the wheels can be switched out entirely each season, which will save on some maintenance costs long-term.

Regardless of whether you choose tires or chains, one thing every driver should do is frequently check tire pressure. Tire pressure can change quickly due to changing temperatures, and a simple check at your local gas station can help ensure you’re driving with tires inflated to the proper level – increasing your car’s performance and protecting your safety.

If you want to learn more about winter tires, or want to swap your vehicle’s tires out, contact your local body shop to help you. Use Carwise.com to find a perfect shop near you and read real reviews from real customers for thousands of shops: carwise.com/auto-body-shops.