Buying a Car: A Problem for Women

According to a recent poll conducted by CarMax Inc. the nation's largest retailer of used cars, purchasing a car has remain to be a problem for women. The survey was conducted on the company's website and the result shows slight improvement from last year's poll result.

There were 12,000 women surveyed on carmax.com and were asked to share the things that they lack or found hard when buying a car. And here are the results:

* A quick, effortless transaction - 21% * A salesperson I liked and trusted - 16%

* Lowest, fair pricing - 14%

* A fair trade-in value - 13%

* Respect for/attention to my wants and needs - 13% * A fair, reasonable finance rate - 7%

* Understandable paperwork - 4%

* Other factors - 12%

To help women car buyers CarMax has offered the following tips:

1. Make use of the internet to research for vehicle types, models, makes, options like whether you can add other components such as Sterling catalytic converter for instance, features and of course prices. Visit automotive web sites the provide car reviews, history reports, and consumer reviews just to get an idea on the car you want to purchase.

2. Make a print out of the car's information you want to purchase.

3. Be sure to bring all the necessary papers with you such as driver's license, car insurance and in case you already have a car bring its registration and title.

4. In case of a pre-approved car loan make sure to bring with you the approval letter.

5. If it's your first time try to ask for referrals from friends and families.

6. Go to a retailer that offers no-haggle prices and provides a menu of pricing on each part of the car buying transaction including the vehicle price, extended service plan, the trade-in, and the financing scheme.

7. If you are to trade-in your car makes sure that you get a separate appraisal. There are automotive websites online just like CarMax that provides free appraisal. Having your car appraised before trading it can help you to understand the fair value of your trade-in.

8. Be confident of your car shopping abilities.

9. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It's your right as a buyer to know everything you need before you make a purchase.

10. It's okay to walk out of a dealer's lot if you can't find anything that's within your liking.

Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present, he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.