Ask the dealer: Four factors that affect what your next car will cost

Many factors determine when you can get the best value on your next vehicle, especially if you plan to sell or trade your current car or truck. To help you identify when the time is right, consider these four factors before you hit the car lot.

1. Trade-in values. If you bought your car recently, chances are it hasn’t been hit hard by the typical drive-off-the-lot depreciation. Used-car prices vary based on supply and demand, so check with valuation sites, local classified ads and your dealer to see what your current car is worth.

2. The calendar. Manufacturers release different incentives at different times of the year. Holiday sales, auto-show discounts and end-of-the-month/year deals can make a great discount combination. Check the Sunday paper and manufacturer Web sites to see what the dealers are offering.

3. Fuel prices. If you have your eye on a big truck or a full-sized SUV, just wait until gas prices go up for a few weeks. It's almost guaranteed that dealer management and sometimes even manufacturers will throw incentives on the big gas guzzlers when petroleum gets pricey.

4. Financing. Borrowing money is really cheap right now; like fuel prices, financing costs tend to vary based on wind direction, but interest rates can’t stay this low forever. You may want to take advantage while you can and speak to a finance agency, bank or credit union.

I recently found myself searching for a car and found that applying these tips equaled a great price. If you're shopping for a new car, remember that timing your purchase with market fluctuations does matter.