The first thing to consider is where to purchase an automotive DVD or component. One method is to buy your system through a bricks and mortar car audio store, which should be able to fit you with the system you need. Another is to buy it on the internet from a Car DVD Players wholesaler, a source which often provides discount car DVD players for lower prices than the bricks and mortar store. However, there are still some key questions you will need to ask, and points to consider, wherever you choose to get your system from.

Will I get all the components I need?
There is nothing worse than paying good money for a car dvd player, going to install it and finding you still need to buy the speakers, TV tuners, TV antennas, wires, brackets or other components before it can be installed. After all, what is the point of buying an in dash car TV DVD player if you don't get the tuner or aerial to make it work.

Who will install it?

A question aimed solely at bricks and mortar car audio stores is one of instillation. Automotive DVD players cost more from car audio shops than online automotive good wholesalers due to the higher overheads of maintaining a physical store and as a result salespeople from said store should offer customers extra value through system instillation.

Can I connect my USB devices or flash memory cards to the player?
More music and data you want shown in vehicles is stored on computers and USB and an increasing number of car DVDs have a plug-in function. These USB ports can also be a useful point to install Bluetooth cellular car phone kits.

What formats does it support?
Will it support MP3s or MPEGs? What about AVI files? If you are choosing a system that will accept USBs and flash memory cards it is always good to check that the system will accept the format of programs you store most often on flash.

What region DVD's does this player accept?
DVD's are becoming increasingly multi-regional but that doesn't necessarily mean that every car DVD player will play every DVD. It is always a good idea to check which region of DVDs you are actually to make sure your dvd player car audio in dash unit is compatible with your collection.

How big is the screen?
The cost of LCD screens have come down a lot in last 12 months, as seen by Panasonic's 150-inch LCD screen showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, which cost the same as the 109 inch screen the company put on display at the show the previous year. As a result, in dash car TV DVD players with 6.5 and 7 inch screens are considered to be the norm, and should be extremely affordable.

It's got a screen, but is it a touch screen?
We all know what a touch screen is, it is one of the things that has made the iPod such a big hit globally. Touch screens are becoming increasingly common and automotive dvds with touch screens should not be astronomically priced. After all, there is nothing worse than hunting for a tiny knob when trying to change music whilst on the road.

Purchasing a car TV DVD player is a big undertaking. Time spent working out what the DVD will be used for and finding out information about the intended purchase would not be wasted.