Purchasing a car is not like buying a pair of jeans – you can't just walk into the dealership and pick out the one that looks the best. It takes a considerable amount of planning and research to ensure you find the perfect model to suit your needs and desires. Remember, you'll likely be driving this car for at least a few years, so you'll want to make sure it is safe, reliable and comfortable, and that you like the way it drives. Here are a few things that you should research before heading to the dealership.

Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) each put all new cars through rigorous testing to evaluate how safe they are. The results can be found on their respective websites, and you can search through the archives to find older models if you're looking to buy a used car.

Cost of ownership
In addition to the purchase price, you'll also be faced with maintenance and repair costs, insurance payments and fuel costs. It can be a good idea to speak with your insurance provider to get a rough estimate of your monthly payments for the car you want. You can also go online and search customer reviews to determine if the model you like has a tendency to break down or is expensive to repair.

Pricing
It's a good idea to head to the dealer armed with knowledge about the price typically paid for the used car you're considering. You can visit industry websites like Kelley Blue Book and find out what others have paid for the same model. If the dealer's asking price is set too high, you can try to talk the salesperson down to an acceptable amount. A price that is too low should raise suspicions, as this could indicate the car has serious damage or other problems.

When you're ready to buy, you can head to NJ State Auto Auction, which carries a wide selection of used vehicles.