Earnhardt Auto Centers

Car Buying Process

Car Buying

What Do I Need To Buy A Car?

The simple answer to this question is: your license, a down payment, and the ability to get a loan for the amount you need. There are more reasons that people ask: what do I need to buy a car? So we have tried to cover those questions here in this article.

Documents Needed for Purchasing a Car

You’ll need your driver’s license with your current address. This is where the car will be titled. A dealership cannot title a car without a specific person, driver’s license, state and address. It’s just part of the official process.

If you can prove your income through documents such as your W-2, your pay stub or other official means, that’s needed for your loan process.

If you have a military ID or are a military dependent, you should bring that documentation. You may be able to get a discount on a vehicle with a military ID.

Last but not least, you’ll need your title for your current car. You can’t trade it if you can’t show you own it. If your title is still with the loan company, you can make arrangements for the loan to be paid off and the title transferred. You’ll need to discuss this with an expert at Earnhardt Auto Centers before you follow through on the process.

What Do You Need for a Car Loan?

To get a loan, you’ll need to be able to show steady employment and enough money to cover car payments. The same applies if you decide to lease a car. It’s even true if you are buying a used car. To determine if you can get a car loan, you can use our easy loan approval process.

How Old Do You Need to Be to Buy a Car?

You have to be a licensed driver, which means a minimum of 16 years old. However, you'll need car insurance, which isn’t available to people who are under 18. Then there’s the need for a loan, which is basically out of bounds for someone who doesn’t have a job history. So let’s say that the minimum age is 18, but there are other considerations that may prevent a person from buying a car until they are 21 or older.

Of course, many times parents purchase a vehicle for their teenager. Or, they may take out a loan for their college-age driver. Earnhardt Auto staff can help you if you are looking for a loan so that your teen driver has their own wheels.

For more information about our new cars, click here. For our online used car inventory, click here and enjoy browsing hundreds of the best used cars today.