So you've got that shiny new car, you've signed everything, and the dealer has given you the keys. Last thing on your mind is whether you got a good deal on your car loan - you're probably more keen to get your new car home and show it off! A few days down the line as the first payment date gets close, you might start wondering whether you really did get the best deal on your car loan.

Once you've got the car it might be too late. You need to start asking these type of questions before you've even walked into a dealership, let alone taken your new car home! When you are shopping around for a new car, going to a dealership with all your research done can really cut down the stress of buying a car. As an added bonus, you're not going to spend the next five years driving your car wondering whether you really got the best deal on your car loan.

Starting off, you need to take a look at your own history with car loans. Have you ever taken out finance on a car? Did you make all your loan payments on time? Did you clear the loan early? Or did you slip behind on your payments and end up with the vehicle being repossessed by the loan company? These are all things that are very important when you're looking to get the loan deal you're after.

Next thing, put in some time to research the exact details of the car you want. Get the make, model and year of the vehicle you're interested in purchasing, and check out some other things too. If it's a brand new car, you should look up to see what the future resale value is likely to be, and make sure that you're getting a reliable vehicle. When you're buying a used car, do some research to find out how well that model holds up over time.

Once you've got all this information and done your research, you should look into auto insurance. Where you get your car insurance from is definitely something you want to sort out before you step into the dealerships - that way, you don't get a huge shock when you find out how high the premium is on that fast sports car! Apart from anything else, most dealerships will want to know you have insurance in place before they hand over the keys for you to drive away.

With all of this done, you're probably just about ready to head out to the showroom and pick out your new ride, but hold off - you're not ready just yet! Before you start talking to dealers and negotiating on price, you should put some time into researching loans by yourself. Despite what a lot of people think, you do not need to take the loan the dealership offers you - you can arrange your own financing yourself, and if you can find a better rate, you should take it!

It's important to set aside a few weeks to apply for loans and get approval on them. Also, remember that even if you're approved, you don't need to take the loan. Compare the details of the loans you get approval on and look to see which has the best deal for you personally. One of the most important things here is the lowest interest rate.

Finally you're ready to head out and do business with a car dealer! Head on down, and once you've picked out your car, and talked about price, tell your dealer that you've lined up your financing - but that you're willing to take a finance package through the dealership if they can offer you a better deal. Quite often they can cut you an even better deal on interest because when you take a loan through them, they make more money than if you go elsewhere. That's it! You can drive home in your new car, and when you wonder "how do I know I got the best deal on my car loan" your research will really have paid off!