If you find yourself out car shopping without any automobile knowledge whatsoever, you may be wondering what to look for when buying a new car. You might feel really, really lost. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind when you’re out new car shopping:

1. Obviously if you’re out looking at a new car, it goes without saying that the car should run well. Not like those sketchy used car dealers that only sell cars half-covered in rust, where you legitimately have to find out if the car actually works.

2. Find a reliable salesman at one of your local car dealers– someone you trust and with whom you can be honest. A good salesman won’t pressure you into buying a car you can’t afford and won’t “explain” the terms and conditions to you using a vocabulary that a normal person wouldn’t know. A good salesperson will help you compare models and will explain pricing. A good salesperson will not creep you out.

3. Pay attention to the financing options and decide which one is best for your budget. The whole “No Money Down!” slogan sounds nice, but it does mean that you’ll pay more in monthly installments. Time Magazine reported that the average cost for a new car in 2012 was $30,500 and in 2013 it went up to about $31,000. That price does NOT change, no matter how you pay it. If you have a really stable job– first of all good for you, and second, making larger monthly payments might be fine. If you’re someone who just kind of floats around, you might want to consider a different payment option. Again, a good salesperson will help you here (see #2 above).

4. If you have an old used car that you want to dispose of, many local car dealers have a trade in program where you can give them your old car and get a discount off a new one! Not only does this save you money, but it means that you can avoid the sketchy used car dealer ships referenced in point #1. Make sure to ask your dealership if they have a program like this.

Most importantly, if you REALLY don’t know what to look for in a new car, just ask for help. Ideally from professionals who really understand cars. (Note: “Google” is not considered a professional in this case.) The best thing to do is to grab a friend and check out your local car dealers. There are over 17,000 dealerships in the US alone– no matter where you are, your local car dealers can’t be too far. Read this website for more information.