Unless you are paying cash for your car, the first thing you will want to shop for is a low interest rate. I will cover financing in detail later but I need to mention this here. Before you visit a car dealer, shop a bit for interest rates. The cost of borrowing money is enormous and you will save hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars by getting a better rate. Check with a few banks, credit unions or online services regarding rates, terms and down payments needed.
Some banks offer great rates but only for shorter terms and require large down payments.
Credit Unions may also have some restrictions. Short terms will save you a lot of money but may put payments out of reach. Find the best deal available that suits you. Check out the calculator in the Before You Shop section. Next you need to shop for a car.