Whether you're considering buying used or new, from a large dealership or a small-time corner lot, here's some advice to follow.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAR

• Determine what you need: Put your wants on the back-burner and be honest with yourself. Do you need a luxury pick-up? Third-row seating? 17-inch wheels? Compensate for this pragmatism by splurging on reliability. In the long run, a reliable car will save you money and aggravation.

• Consider year-old models: Don't shun last-year's models. New cars depreciate the minute you drive off the lot. A used, year-or-two-old car with low mileage is unlikely to give you any more trouble than one fresh from the factory. And, every now and then, there's that car with zero miles that has waited a year or more for a buyer; take it off the dealer's hands and net yourself a steep discount.

THE MONEY PART

• Do the math: Figure out how much of your monthly budget you can part with, and leave a little room for insurance. Once you get a figure, play with online loan calculators (try Cars.com, Bankrate.com) to see what price range you should realistically aim for.

• Price it out: Gauge what the model you like is worth. Check the Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com), NADA (www.nadaguides.com) or Edmunds.com, and determine the local going price by comparing prices from private sellers and local dealerships.

• Compare insurance costs: Premiums for different models in the same category can vary vastly, depending on how expensive they are to repair, how popular they are with thieves, what kind of driver is drawn to them, etc. Some used models even retain surprisingly high insurance costs over the years.

Plenty of websites will give you personalized insurance estimates but only after asking for personal information and looking up your credit history. This will prompt every agent in town to begin mailing you solicitations. If you already carry auto insurance for another vehicle, your current insurer should be able to give you quotes on models you're considering without pulling your credit record.

Otherwise, only Allstate (www.Allstate.com) offers "ballpark'' estimates without requiring any identifying information. Give it a whirl; it'll provide you an idea of how different models compare in insurance costs, all else being equal.

• Shop for financing: Dealerships are eager to sell car loans, but their rates are rarely better than those offered by credit unions or banks.

Here's how to shop for a loan:

Ideally, you already keep tabs on your credit rating; if you don't, start now. Get credit reports from the three main reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion; U.S. consumers are entitled to one free report per year, which must be obtained through www.AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228. Check for errors and get them corrected (a lengthy process). Then, get your credit (or FICO) scores, the main factor in determining which interest rate you'll qualify for (you'll be charged for this).

Get on the phone or visit different banks or credit unions in person and ask what kind of rate you'd likely get with your score. Don't let anyone request your credit history or score from the credit bureaus until you're reasonably certain you've found the best loan; each time a lender seeks your credit information, it places an "inquiry'' on your credit report, a negative mark that can bring down your score -- and, thus, raise the rates you're offered.