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(BPT) – No matter how essential it is, car shopping can be a challenge. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the vehicle options, and hard to know where to start. The good news is, you can now access the best technology available to help you hone your search, so you can find the top models to suit your needs.

When you’re ready to discover your next great ride, Autotrader taps into cutting-edge technology to elevate your car search. Autotrader is powered by Auto Intelligence, which uses real-time data and smart tech to personalize your search, saving you time and effort.

“Once you know how to use the latest technology to your advantage, the car-shopping process becomes not only a whole lot easier, but fun,” said Greta Crowley, vice president of marketing at Autotrader. “Auto Intelligence ensures you’ll have relevant data and information at your fingertips from a brand you can trust.”

The experts at Autotrader offer these tips to give you confidence in your next car purchase.

Access wider inventory

When you’re car shopping, you don’t want to limit your options too soon. While it may seem like there are tons of cars available on the market, finding the perfect car will be more likely if you have access to a large inventory of vehicles, not just from one dealer or in one limited location. Having a larger inventory to choose from also means you can get a better idea of the current available options and prices.

To open up your possibilities, Autotrader offers access to a huge inventory with a wide range of different makes and models to choose from, both new and used. The inventory from Autotrader includes dealers as well as private sellers to provide a larger variety of options for your next vehicle.

Hone your search

After you’ve had a chance to browse online to get an idea of available prices and options, it’s time to figure out what criteria are the most important to you.

Autotrader.com, powered by Auto Intelligence, makes this part of the process easier than ever by helping you choose options in several categories right on your phone, computer or other device. It’s easy to use the drop-down boxes to select your desired options for:

• Location
• Year
• Make, Model & Trim
• Condition
• Drive Type
• Price & Payments
• Mileage

and much more, or leverage the Smart Search feature with search suggestions. Autotrader provides instant results using your chosen criteria, so you can easily narrow your options. Too many or too few results? You can quickly adjust any of your choices.

Understand your budget

Knowing how much car you can afford is crucial, and it’s important to keep a few key things in mind. Beyond the down payment and monthly car payments you may need, you’ll also have to consider insurance coverage, as well as resources to cover regular maintenance and repairs, as needed. You may also benefit from trading in your current vehicle (if you’re buying from a dealer).

Actionable steps you can take for smart budgeting include:

• Figuring out how monthly car payments fit into your budget.
• Asking your insurance company about coverage for cars you’re considering. If you’re upgrading to a more expensive or newer car, the insurance cost will likely be higher than what you’re paying for your current vehicle.
• Talking to your bank or credit union about current auto loan rates and getting pre-approved, if possible.

From the homepage or under the “Price & Payments” section, Autotrader can help you stay on budget by factoring monthly car payments into your search utilizing the Kelley Blue Book My Wallet feature.

Let Auto Intelligence do the heavy lifting

Searching and buying online is the easiest way to purchase your next vehicle. To ensure you’ll find the best new or used car for you, Autotrader, powered by Auto Intelligence, syncs your data and preferences with a variety of trusted Autotrader tools and information to streamline the car buying experience, so you can find the perfect car. The combination of products, services, inventory, data, content and user preferences on Autotrader all work together to provide a streamlined experience that transforms the car buying journey.

“Thanks to the wide inventory of cars, extensive search platforms, budgeting tactics and buying options from Autotrader and powered by Auto Intelligence, you can be confident about making your next car purchase right from your phone or other device,” said Crowley.

Learn how to start your next car search at Autotrader.com/auto-intelligence.