The first thing that you should do is get an idea of what kind of vehicle you want and try to narrow it down to a couple of different models to make your research easier. Once you have done this you can start watching your local classifieds and see what kind of prices they are bringing there.
Many times you can find great deals in your local classifieds and depending on the seller's situation you may be able to get a vehicle at a price well below retail. Sometimes people get a big eye opener when they try to trade their car and want to get more than the dealer will give them, which in many cases is still a bargain.
You can also do some checking online at sites like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and NADA.
One of my favorite methods is to use eBay. With eBay you can open a free account and then you can go to eBay Motors and pick out vehicles that are being auctioned and put them in a watch list. I have done this many times not only to buy a vehicle, but also to get a good idea what I should get if I sell mine. Online Auctions like this can be a great way to find good deals. You get to check out the vehicles, which usually have pictures and shop right from the comfort of your own home. Try to find auctions with no reserve, these types of auctions don't have a minimum price before they will sell and you may well be able to buy a vehicle at a great discount.
Another recommendation I have to make is that you use the system known as CARFAX. The information they offer is crucial in that they have information on all major repairs done on vehicles through information compiled from insurance claims and repair facilities.
Public Car Auctions are held in many areas and you don't have to be a dealer to attend. Many times these auctions have cars that have been repossessed from local banks and credit unions that have no desire to keep them.
You can also check with local rental car companies that may be reducing last year's fleet.
Some suggest going to dealer auctions, but it has been my experience that in many cases the vehicles end up going higher than they should.
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For car detailing products go to http://www.shineyourcar.com
