Almost 90 percent of cars aren't bought by consumers at all; they're purchased by banks. Only about 10 percent of buyers pay cash outright. The rest either borrow or lease a car from the real owner: a bank, an automaker's finance arm or a credit union. Shopping for a loan isn't as fun as shopping for the car itself, but it's not as difficult as securing a mortgage, either. We recommend that you shop around for a loan before you go to a dealership. Before you can shop for a loan, though, you'll need to determine a few things.
Determine What Car You Can Afford

It might seem difficult to make this determination before test-driving a bunch of cars, but it's best to steer clear of the sales floor until you've done your research. Affordability isn't just about the car's price; it's about the cost of financing, insuring, fueling and maintaining it. Unfortunately, you can't start with those costs, because they vary from car to car. You have to start somewhere, though, and it's OK if you don't know exactly what car to buy. If you're like most shoppers, you have an idea of the type you want and how much car you're likely to get for the amount you've got to spend. Be sure to include one-time charges like taxes, title and license fees, and the destination charge when you're figuring out how much you can spend, as well as factoring in continuing costs such as insurance and gas.
Shop for Loans Before Going to the Dealership

The way to handle the traumatic and stressful after a car accident is to prepare yourself ahead of time. By having a home-made roadside emergency kit, you can make sure that you and your passengers stay safe after the collision and document all important information that you may later need for an insurance claim, or discussion with a law enforcement officer or attorney.

In putting together your own roadside emergency kit, remember that more is more. You never know what item may come in handy in extreme conditions (such as a poncho, in the event of rain) and the most unlikely item may become your most valuable.

The following items should be considered as necessities for your kit:

• First-Aid Kit - in the event of injury, this will be crucial before the paramedics arrive
• Flashlight - in order to navigate your way around the wreck in the dark, or find something in a dark car
• Pen/Paper - in order to document all of the details of the accident and other driver's information
• Disposable Camera - to take detailed pictures of the accident, damage to both cars, license plates, and any other environmental factors that can help explain the context of the crash
• Jumper cables
• Hazard cones/flares - to deter oncoming traffic until law enforcement arrives
• A few bottles of water and granola bars, in case you are stranded in a remote location
• Gloves
• Tire inflator
• A simple tool kit

Though these items can help keep you safe after a collision, the best item to have in the event of a car accident is auto insurance. Not only is it illegal to drive without it, but it can ensure protection against damages to your car, the other car involved, and the health and well-being of yourself and anyone else who was injured as a result. Insurance agents are specially trained to assess fault and damages after the incident and can help you pay for resulting monetary losses.