New vehicle purchase: where should you start?

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Picture this scenario: you've just started a new family (or perhaps a new job) and you're looking to upgrade your old car. What should you get? The Toyota family has so many options...Camry, Corolla, RAV4, 4Runner, and the list goes on! Where do you start your research when you have no clue what you're interested in yet? The only thing you're certain of is that you want to get a fantastic deal regardless of what you go for.

When you're at this initial phase of car shopping where you're just testing the waters, the smartest way to start your approach is to check out the current incentives from a vehicle manufacturer. These are special deals you get straight from the brand you're looking at. They're usually listed on both the dealership website as well as the manufacturer website.

Browsing through these, you can immediately see what offers are available right now. They usually include special financing rates, a discounted price if you choose to go with a lease, and/or cash back! For example, as of this writing, a Toyota Camry offers 0.0% APR financing (depending on your credit) for up to 60 months, and it includes $750 extra cash towards the total cost of the vehicle. Best of all, these types of incentives can also be combined with college graduate or military rebates! With a Toyota vehicle, that would mean an extra $750...or a total of $1500 towards the purchase of the Camry mentioned previously.

One thing to keep in mind with incentives is that they are always changing, and can vary from month to month or by what holidays are coming up (such as President's Day, for example). If you are browsing cars online or at the dealership, and undecided as to when you might make a purchase, it is a good idea to keep track of what is currently running. You could end up saving a lot of money by timing the purchase of your car!

What other tips do you have when it comes to researching a new vehicle? Share yours below!