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"The power is in the hands of the consumer," says Michael Caudill, auto expert and spokesman for NADAGuides.com. A tightening credit market, the need for automakers to move metal, and some sizable government and automaker incentives are making it easier for buyers — who have the money and the credit — to make a deal. While auto experts often caution that a reliable used car gives the buyer the most bang for the buck, that might not be the case today. "New cars with the compelling incentives being offered are, in a lot of ways, a better value," says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director of Kelley Blue Book, in Irvine, Calif. But no one wants to leave any money on the table. So if you’re buying now, here are 10 tips to help drive away with the best deal:

1. Bargain over the Internet

Sure, you show up to test drive the car, but you negotiate price and financing via computer. You can even have the vehicle delivered to your home or office and sign the paperwork there, says Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. You’ll save three ways. First, most Internet department sales people are salaried and get extra bonuses based on volume rather than commissions based on the sales price, he says. That means they have the incentive to cut you the best price to move cars, he says. The average savings when you deal over the Internet is $1,000 to $2,000, says Reed.

Second, you avoid the dreaded financing and insurance, or F and I, office. This is where buyers can encounter the add-ons and extra fees which threaten to negate whatever great deal they negotiated over the Internet or in the showroom, he says.

Third, you can shop and negotiate during moments when it’s convenient for you. No killing time on a hard plastic chair while your salesman "wrestles" his manager for a better deal.

2. Pit dealers against each other

The object here is to start a bidding war for your business. Once you’ve determined which make and model you want, contact a handful of dealers via the Internet, tell them what you want and when you want to buy. Then ask for their best price, says Jeff Ostroff, chief executive of CarBuyingTips.com. Let them know you’re talking to other dealers and plan to give the sale to whoever cuts you the best deal, he says.

"Think of it as reverse eBay," Ostroff says. "They’re haggling over you."

Do your best to make it a true comparison. "Be very, very specific about the vehicle you want," says Chris Denove, vice president of J.D. Power and Associates in Westlake Village, Calif. "Color choices, options, etc." And be very clear on what that price includes. What you want to avoid is a lot of fees tacked on later. Do you really want to see how low they can go? E-mail 10 different dealers, says Eric Evarts, associate editor for autos at Consumer Reports in Yonkers, N.Y. After 10 quotes on the exact same car, the lowest of the 10 "is the lowest you’re going to get," he says.

3. BYOF (bring your own financing)

Get pre-approved for your auto loan before you start car shopping. Apply to a handful of banks and several credit unions to see who can give you the best rate and terms.

Keep the applications within a 14-day period and all the loan applications will only count as one inquiry, minimizing the impact on your credit. Once you settle on a lender, that pre-approval should be good for about 60 days, giving you plenty of time to select your car and close the deal, Ostroff says.

4. Negotiate the vehicle price first

Car deals have a lot of moving parts these days: the price of the car, the credit for the trade-in, the financing rate and the incentives. "I would try and keep the different transactions separate in my mind," Nerad says. But he admits, "That’s tough to do." To make your best deal, focus on only one part at a time, starting with getting the best price on your new car. Only after you have that in writing do you start talking about incentives which would be subtracted from the negotiated price, or the trade-in, or the financing, says Reed. What you don’t want is the money you saved on one part of the deal added on somewhere else.

5. Realize that everything is negotiable

Many times, add-on fees are preprinted on auto sales contracts, says Ostroff. The not-so-subtle message to buyers: This is a fixed cost and nonnegotiable. Wrong, Ostroff says. In reality, everything is negotiable, and smart buyers know it. Preprinted numbers can be crossed out, or an equal amount can be subtracted elsewhere on the same form.

6. Get educated

"Know what a good deal is," says Carter Myers III, president of Carter Myers Automotive, a Charlottesville, Va.-based dealership group. Manufacturers are offering incentives on more than two-thirds of the vehicles on the market, Reed says. What you need to know are the incentives that manufacturers are giving to buyers or dealers on the car that you want.

You can get some great information on sites like Edmunds.com, ConsumerReports.org, KBB.com, NADAGuides.com, CarBuyingTips.com and JDPower.com. Edmunds has a "true market value" feature that reveals what buyers are paying for the same make and model in their area and nationally. One of the most powerful sources for information on incentives is the automakers own Web sites, says Reed.

"Become an expert in over three weeks or so," he says. "It can save you a lot of money." You can also enter your chosen car model and "incentives" or a similar term into a search engine, Consumer Reports’ Evarts says. Because safety is important as a way to save money on insurance, check out the crash tests and other safety factors at IIHS.org and SaferCar.gov.

7. Time the market

One more way to save: Buy at the end of the model year, Ostroff says. "August through October is usually a really good time to buy if you want to get the current year at a discount," he says. If that doesn’t suit your schedule, you sometimes can get a better deal by buying at the end of the month if the sales staff is trying to make its quota, Ostroff says.

8. Shop your trade-in

The dealership selling you a new vehicle isn’t necessarily the one that will offer you the highest price on your old one. If you have the time, take it around to a handful of dealers and see who can offer the best price on a straight sale. And don’t forget the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS, popularly known as the "cash for clunkers" program. If you’re trading a vehicle that meets the criteria, you could be eligible for a sizable incentive at purchase time.

9. Think hard about vehicle choice

If you want to get the most for your money, look carefully at the car, not just the deal. Will it serve your needs now and into the future? "In this era of great car deals, it’s important not just to get a great deal on a cheap car but to get a great car," Evarts says. For buyers these days, that means picking "a car you can hang on to," he says. When it comes to choosing a dealer, convenience also can be important, especially if dealer maintenance is part of the equation. So is finding a dealership that makes you comfortable. If you find a dealer that is "convenient, trustworthy and gives good service," it can make smart financial sense to buy there even if that isn’t the rock-bottom price, Myers says. "You’re buying a $30,000 vehicle. Every once in a while, you get one that’s got a problem. You want someone who’s going to go to bat for you."

10. Pull a switch

What if the dealer you prefer doesn’t have the vehicle you need? Many times, dealers can do a swap, says Caudill, who used this strategy to purchase his car from the same dealer he planned to service the car. These days, if you’ve found the right car and the right dealer, says Caudill, "they’ll find a way to make it work.".

Buying a used car can be a substantial investment, with considerable costs involved. In tough economic times saving every penny counts; plus why would you pay more than you have too.

Here are a few quick tips when buying a used car.

1. Financing

Keeping your loan term to the shortest amount of time will save you money in the long run. Generally, it is wise to keep the term within 36 months if possible.

2. Loan

Obtain a loan for a used car via a third party lender. Generally used car dealers will charge higher rates or tack on additional fees, plus it puts you in a weaker position when negotiating the cars price.
   
If you are in the military or work for the government, there are lending institutions which provide good rates to government personnel, which are unavailable to the general public.

3. Private sale

Generally you can obtain a used car for a lower price from a private seller. The vehicle may not have a warranty and almost never comes with a guarantee. However, since there is no middle man in the transaction, both the buyer and seller of the used car come out better in the long run.

4. Inspection

Have a friend who is a good mechanic? Have them inspect the used car for less. Throw a few dollars his way and skip the expensive used car inspections. Additionally, you will be building a relationship which might come in handy in the future.

5. Car Fax Reports

If you search online numerous websites list discount coupons for car fax reports for your used car. The discount rate isn’t much, but every penny counts!

6. Wear and Tear Items

Most used cars have worn out parts: tires, brakes, cracked glass, broken/burnt out bulbs and exhaust leaks. Check the car over rigorously as these items add up. Additionally, make sure all items needed to pass inspection are in good condition; or have the seller knock off a few dollars to compensate. Also, used cars with broken inspection items are harder to sell, so the owner may come down in price.

7. Change your own oil

Changing your own oil can save you money, especially if you use synthetic.

8. Application Fees

When obtaining a loan for a used car normally there is an application free. See if the loan officer will waive the fee. Tell the loan officer you just had a kid and times are tuff. Heck, flirt with the person; you might be surprised how far you can get.

9. Ladies bring a guy

While this will sound sexist, it is strongly advised that ladies bring a guy when buying a used car. Some individuals are of the opinion women are not knowledgeable about cars, and will try to push you into a bad deal. Having a guy with you, even if they are just a friend or relative will help to eliminate that problem. Additionally, having two sets of eyes is always better than one.  

10. Buy out of state

Some states do not require you to pay tax up font when purchasing a used car. Buying out of state can save you money initially; additionally your state of residence might have a lower tax rate. In fact there is a good resource for locating out of state cars LocalCarHub.com.

Bonus – Know what you are buying. Do the research; learn what similar cars are selling for. Check the blue book value of the car.

Enjoy your used car.