Shopping for your first car is stressful, but very exciting! Without the proper planning, it can also be a disaster. Be sure to do your homework to make your buying experience a positive one, overall. Here are eight important questions to ask yourself before you make that big purchase.

Laura Edgar is a senior writer for NerdWallet.com, an unbiased personal finance website dedicated to helping you make smart financial decisions.

Car shopping can be a grueling and intimidating task, however here are some simple tips you can follow to make the experience more pleasant and help you drive out of the dealership with your best deal.