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Anyone who has faced the prospect of buying a new car — a truly new car, not a “new to you” car — knows that the process can be overwhelming. Even before you start worrying about things like warranties, service agreements, and entertainment systems, you have to figure out what model of car best suits your needs. Car companies don’t make it any easier, offering new and different models every year so that a 2011 honda fit may be completely different than the 2010 model.

Start by identifying the basic type of vehicle you need. These generally fall into simple categories like SUV, truck, sports car, family sedan, economy car. This is where you consider the main use of the car and how many passengers and how much cargo you’ll be transporting on a regular basis.

Next, narrow down the features that matter most to you. For some this will be gas mileage or environmental impact , for others it will be off-road capabilities or high safety ratings. This will help you start to narrow down specific makes and models that match those needs.

Then it’s just a matter of winnowing down the models based on your own needs and preferences. Automatic or manual transmission ? How many airbags? Conversion seats? Regular four-door model or a hatchback?

Once you have your list of requirements you can either continue searching for specific vehicles in ads or online or you can head out to a car dealer and see what they can do to match your list. The right car is going to be the one that meets all or most of your listed items, fits your budget and financing needs, and feels “right” when you look at it and drive it.