The car buying experience can certainly be enjoyable, but potential buyers are certainly nervous when they're pursuing a new car. Even if you're opting for a used vehicle, you should be expecting a hefty financial obligation, and you have every right to be anxious.

However, no matter how you're feeling, you have no excuse for not using common sense while shopping. Even if you've done all the research and invested plenty of time and effort into the ordeal, there's still probably a variety of elements that you failed to investigate. Luckily, we've got you covered, and these lessons are applicable even if you're shopping for a new car online.

Take a look at our guide below as a refresher to the factors you may be forgetting about when shopping for a vehicle. You may realize that you need to devote some more time to your preparation, and that extra bit of information could help you target in on a particular type of car…

Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

Even though you're making quite the financial investment, there's no reason why you should be overwhelmed when shopping for a car. After all, your purchase will be heavily relied on over the next decade or so, and you'll certainly have a couple memorable driving experiences. You should be enjoying the buying process, especially since it's something you get to experience very infrequently.

Unless there's some sort of deadline in which you need to acquire a new vehicle, you shouldn't be rushing through the process. Make sure you absorb and evaluate all the information that you come across, and rely on your own gut feelings when it comes time to whittle down your list. If you're still unsure of which car you should be opting for, check the cars out and give them a ride. Of course, you can also use our additional pointers below to help determine your final choice.

Furthermore, you won't have to deal with any hassle or tension of a dealership by visiting NowCar.com. Shopping for automobiles via the internet relieves you of any stress, and you can be guaranteed that you'll receive some of the best deals out there. Additionally, you can be assured that the online marketplace will have a significantly better selection that your standard dealership. Shopping online makes the entire ordeal easier, more fun, and less stressful. Who would complain about that?

Just remember to stay positive. If you treat the process like a chore, you certainly won't be happy with the end result, regardless of your purchase. Look at it as a game, and the end result is one of the best grand prizes you could ask for!

Make Sure to Check Out Vehicle Complaints

We all do it. When we're searching for a new vehicle, we focus on all of the positives reviews to help us determine our route. Heated seats? A sunroof? That's all some consumers need to read, and you'll subsequently see them signing a financial agreement. Unfortunately, these potential car buyers often ignore the negative reviews, with a good portion of them eventually realizing that they're disappointed with their decision.

Now, we're not saying that it's essential to read every negative review, especially since some pundits could have a particular personal vendetta against a particular dealership, brand, or manufacturer. If you read enough of these reviews (preferably written by legitimate writers and sources, as opposed to commenters and forum posters), you should get a better idea of the negative features on a particular vehicle.

Which negative reviews should you be brushing aside and ignoring? To start, you can obviously avoid those who complain about the price or any of the specs, as that was information that was readily available to the buyer prior to their purchase. You can also avoid complaints about the vehicle's aesthetics, as that's mostly subjective, and you can establish your own opinion when you check the car out.

If there seems to be a universal and consistent mechanical issue, that's when you should be taking note. It's not easy to rely on the word of one online voice. However, if there are many of these voices preaching the same issue, that should alert you of some red flags.

Remember the Vehicle’s Depreciation Rate

A vehicle's depreciation rate isn't particularly important if you plan on running your car into the ground and getting every last mile from that engine. However, this is certainly worth noting if you're hoping to get some value from your new car down the road. If this is the case, you'll want to do some research into the depreciation rate of your desired vehicle.

According to CarsDirect.com, the value of a vehicle immediately drops around 20% the moment it's driven off the lot. From there, the car will drop another 15% in value every year, until the rate eventually slows down once the car has reached its fifth year on the road. 

While there's no way to avoid some sort of reduced value, you can certainly do your part in assuring that you'll receive maximum value when it's time to sell your vehicle. Keeping the cabin clean, trash-free, and devoid of smoke will certainly help boost the value when you're shopping your ride. To help ease any potential issues during the selling process, leaving a down payment will help reduce the risk of owing more on the vehicle than it's worth.

Of course, depreciation rates could benefit you if you're in actually searching for a used car. Research the resell value of the car you're seeking, and use those figures as negotiating tools when you're arguing over a final price.

Research a Vehicle’s Estimated Repair Costs

Having to fix a vehicle is inevitable and should be expected as you attempt to set a budget. If you're trying to account for all of the financials variables that accompany a purchase of a car, repairs should certainly be on the list. Therefore, it's somewhat surprising that potential buyers will ignore this factor while shopping for new cars. 

The "estimated repair cost" figure that accompanies a vehicle's listing should give you some sort of idea into whether a particular vehicle will ultimately require some costly repairs. After all, some vehicles are more susceptible to breaking down, and this is an attribute that shouldn't be ignored as you're shopping for a car.

While it's impossible to factor in random and freak accidents, you can still be prepared for some inevitable repairs. If you plan for these fixes, the financial toll won't be as devastating, and you might get a nice monetary surprise if your car ultimately doesn't need those expected repairs.

You should now have a better understanding of the additional factors you should be considering prior to shopping for a car. We're not saying you have to necessarily make the suggestions a priority. However, they should certainly be considered as you're trying to choose between multiple vehicles. 

When you've completed your research, you won't even have to leave your couch to purchase a new ride! Head over to NowCar.com, and you can pick out your ideal vehicle without any hassle of a dealership.