1. Above all else, know your budget
The average monthly car payment is now more than $730, compared to $527 five years ago, according to Edmunds.Interest on your car loan If you don’t absolutely need a car right away, you should wait it out as long as possible.When you add in insurance — which varies from state to state and is higher for younger, less experienced drivers — that will add another $100 or more to the monthly cost.
"With interest rates so high, the one thing you can control is reducing the amount of the loan you get," Yoon said.