One of the benefits of buying a car, truck, or SUV from a place like Fiore Toyota is that you can walk into the showroom in the morning and drive away in your new car a few hours later. Unfortunately, many people go to the dealership unprepared without even really knowing that they are unprepared. Inevitably, this delayed the process for them and created extra paperwork for the dealership. Largely in part, this is because most people don’t really know what they need in order to buy a new car. Good news, friends, we have a list of everything you will need.

If you want to take a test drive and let’s be real, you’re going to want to take a test drive, you need to bring your driver’s license. Many dealerships ask to make a copy of your driver’s license before they’ll let you drive their cars. Once back from your life changing test drive, and you totally want to buy that car, chances are you need to provide your driver’s license and a current proof of insurance card before they can complete the paperwork.

Should you need to apply for a car loan at the dealership,  the lender usually requires proof of full insurance coverage before they’ll let you drive the car home. In most states, your existing proof of insurance card will suffice. You then have a few days or weeks after the sale to let the insurance company know that you have purchased a beautiful new car. You don’t have to tell them that it’s beautiful, but you’ll probably want to anyway. As long as you notify them in time, your new vehicle is fully insured! WOO HOO! If in doubt, check with your insurance company.

If you don’t currently have full insurance on a vehicle, all you have to do is make sure your insurance company or agent is available by way of telephone right after you make your purchase. This way you can contact them with the year, make, model, VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), and miles on the car. Once the paperwork is done and you have paid, they can fax proof of insurance to the dealership so you can drive your new vehicle home.

Make sure that you bring an electric bill as proof of residence with you. You may not need this but always helps to be prepared. In addition, you should also have at least your 2 most recent pay stubs for proof of employment particularly if you’re looking to get a loan.

If you currently have a vehicle in relatively decent condition that you’re looking to trade in, remember to bring the “Certificate of Title” or pink slip. This will save both you and the dealership time from having to request a duplicate title from the DMV, which can really slow down the whole process. Please remember to clean out the car. Look under the seats for that cup your 2-year-old threw violently at the window last Thursday. Grab the CDs that were hidden in the glove compartment. Grab the Britney Spears CD you’ve been listening for the past 2 months from the CD player. Also, bring the manuals and extra keys and leave them in the car.

Finally, remember your checkbook. It’s amazing how many people don’t think of this and forget their checkbooks at home. Even if you plan on financing the entire cost of the vehicle, it’s usually a good idea to bring your checkbook in case you run into something you hadn’t thought of. You never know.

Buying a new car is a fun and exciting experience, so remember to enjoy the ride!