A Mom's Guide To New Car Shopping {with Cars.com}

**Sponsored Post**

Let's talk car shopping.

Now, I like many kind of shopping- back to school shopping? I'm there! Birthday shopping? I'm there! Christmas shopping? I shop all year long.

But car shopping? Well now, that's another story!

It's STRESSFUL! Buying a car is a huge purchase. It's not like buying a sweater that you can return if you decide it's not for you. It's not like a new protein bar that you decided to give a try that you can toss out if you don't like it. Aside from housing, buying a car is probably the biggest purchase most of us will make, and we want to make sure you're getting the right one.

Now, if you've stumbled on this post hoping to find the best cars on the market, or are looking for some expert advice... I'm sorry to disappoint, but you won't find that here. But what you will find are my tips- from one non-car person to another- that I have learned to consider when buying a car:



Consider the Size You Need & Think Ahead.
Of course you want to have a car that is big enough for your family as it is, but don't forget to think ahead too. When my husband and I bought our first car together we didn't plan on having kids for a bit, so a two door Camaro SEEMED like a good idea at the time. Well, let's just say the ink on the paperwork didn't dry before we discovered we needed a larger vehicle. If you're one kid away from third row seating, it might not hurt to cover your bases.

Speaking of Kids--- Take the Car Seats! 
Even if the kids aren't actually at the dealership with you, take their carseats along! I know it's a hassle but when we were shopping for cars most recently, I took my daughter's seat and tested it out in every possibility we looked at- especially if you're rearfacing as that can be a little harder (though not impossible) in a smaller car! If you have three carseats in the backseat, you want to make sure all will fit correctly.

Shop Around.
Don't commit yourself to shopping at one dealership. Look around to find the car you really want at the best price. A few years ago when my husband bought his vehicle, he found what he wanted at one, but decided to check around... just in case. The dealer next door had almost the exact same vehicle, except newer and a better price! 

Read Reviews.
My husband is a car guy and for the most part could tell you what's a good buy and what's not- with some exceptions. Me, however? I couldn't tell you the first thing. So instead I head over to Cars.com to check out expert, non-biased reviews. They'll tell you the good, the bad and the ugly of various models. They share things that matter to the car people like horsepower and cylinders, etc... you know that thing that just goes over MY head... but they also talk about the things that are important to me as a mom- how much cargo space and leg room is available? These in depth reviews will help even the car novice like myself make a wise decision! You can even look at side by side comparisons to give you a better idea of which car is best for you.

But Cars.com isn't just for car reviews! Decide on the model you like? You can browse cars for sale in your area and areas nearby--- allowing you to shop around without driving all over! You can find dealerships, estimate payments and even find vehicles for sale by owner! Have a car to trade off? They can help you sell, or get you a quote on an approximate value on your car.

Not sure if you're ready to sell or fix? They can help you find a service center and get you a quote too! They even offer some service tips for us non-car people!

No matter what your car needs are, Cars.com has them covered! Whether you're looking to buy, sell or repair head on over and make sure you're getting the absolute best out there!

Are you currently shopping for a car or have you recently bought? What tips would you share? How can Cars.com help?