The Independent Millennial’s No-Bullshit Guide To Buying A Car

If you live in L.A. — or any other sprawling city besides New York — you are well aware that a set of wheels is a necessity. But if the latest It bag is the biggest splurge you've ever made, you also know that buying yourself a new whip can be quite daunting. After all, by Kelley Blue Book’s estimation, the average price for a car in the U.S. last month was $33,340 — more than millennial women in this country typically make in a year. Ouch.

As if you needed another obstacle, the selection of vehicle options is practically endless: Millions of new cars roll into American car lots every single year, and car salespeople can seem like intimidating auto overlords behind high dealership doors. But don't fret. The good news is that hopeful car owners have it better than ever before — and it's time to get educated and empowered!

“It used to be that you had to go to the dealer to get any information at all about a car. It was specifically designed that way because once you were there, you could be pressured to buy a car,” says Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds. But thanks to the web, that's all changed.

“The more research you can do ahead of time, the less pressure you are going to feel when you are in the dealership having to make a decision,” says Eric Lyman, vice president of industry insights at mobile auto marketplace TrueCar. And luckily for you, you've come to the right place for just that.

Ahead, Reed, Lyman, and other car experts provide a bounty of tips to guide you into the right lane.