Shopping for your next vehicle is and should always be exciting and enjoyable experience. Before you even decide on a vehicle, conduct an honest self evaluation to figure out how much you can afford. How much money do you have to spend now and how much money will you have to spend in the future?

If you're financing a vehicle, research your taxes and finance rating through your ZIP code. Create a target for your monthly payment. This should be no more than 20% of your monthly income and should not include gas, insurance or expected maintenance on the vehicle. When setting your loan term, remember that shorter terms usually have higher payments while longer terms may require paying more in interest. 

If trading a vehicle, consider the value of your old vehicle as payment towards the cost of the new vehicle. If you're using a cash down payment, try to put as much down as possible. This will lower the cost of your monthly payment and the loan amount. Following these simple tips will help to ensure you will be able to afford the vehicle you have picked out. 

Of course you can always stop by our local dealership where one of our friendly associates can help you determine which vehicle is right for you.