CHICAGO — July 24

With new 2008 vehicles hitting dealer lots, attractive incentive offers and dealership model-year clearance sales have made it a great time to find that family car, according to Motherproof.com, a car-shopping website aimed at women, especially mothers.

For most families, purchasing a car is a major expense in their household budget. The experts at Mother Proof offer tips to help families take advantage of current incentives so they can keep more money in their pockets.

Automakers, especially U.S. ones, typically offer big discounts during the summer, and this summer is no exception. In an effort to keep their sales figures up and clear out the 2007 models still hanging around, they’re offering big cash and low interest rates on many cars. Because family cars are usually big, and gas prices have driven down sales of big cars, those family cars might have some really good deals.

“The catch here is that a lot of these incentives run through the end of July or will end in the not-too-distant future,” said Kristin Varela, chief mother at Mother Proof. “Families who are in the market for a new car should definitely take a look at the incentive offers and pay close attention to the expiration dates.”

Here are some helpful hints from Mother Proof that might help you get a better deal if you’re in the market to buy a new car for your family:

• Know if you qualify for special interest rates, and shop interest rates before you go: There’s a chance you may not qualify for those special interest rates if your credit is marginal or bad. Find the lowest interest rate you can prior to going to any dealerships. You need to know what the best deals are from other lending institutions so you have some leverage and know what to expect at the dealership.
• Check local offers: While there are all kinds of national offers going on, there are also regional ones in the form of dealer incentives. This is often where the money is. Different cars are popular in different markets, and dealerships need to move cars specific to their area. Dealer incentives tend to be local, while manufacturer incentives are sometimes offered nationwide.
• Earn rewards for loyalty: Some manufacturers are offering loyalty bonuses, which give cash back to those buying a newer version of their current vehicles. If you like your vehicle and just want a new one, this is a nice offer and sometimes can be added to another offer.

Mother Proof has identified several leasing incentives available on popular family vehicles. Consumers can expect to find these manufacturer offers at most local dealerships, where they can also inquire about incentives available to those who’d rather buy than lease.

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