The thing to remember is that unlike other purchases, like cell phones and other gadgets is that using technology to shop can only go so far. You have to shop in person for a car. By doing so, you will actually make a better decision — and maybe even get a better deal.

Here are a few quick tips…

Keep an open mind: Everyone does online research on cars, but young adults are spending twice as much time on it. So by the time they walk into a dealership, they’ve probably already made up their minds what car they will buy.

By being so sure of their online research, customers might actually be missing out on cars that would better suit their needs. But when you see the car in person you might not like it at all — it might feel too big, too small, or just not what you had in mind.

Keep your apps handy at the dealership: As you go out and meet more dealers, you may spot a car that looks nice but you don’t know much about it. That’s when it helps to whip out your phone.

Cross reference the information: Gather all of the information you can from places like Edmunds.com, TrueCar.com, Cars.com and KBB.com.

The test drive: You can’t test drive a car online. Realize that getting behind the wheel could be a game changer. You might find that the car you’ve zeroed in on has a driver seat that’s too hard or soft for your liking, or that the space between the seat and the gas pedal just doesn’t suit you. It’s important to have more than one car on your final list, in case you discover a deal breaker with your top pick. Hey, that’s the point of the test drive.

Don’t forget to haggle: Use your tech knowledge to your advantage. Apps from TrueCar.com and Edmunds can reveal what’s a genuinely fair price for the car you’re trying to buy.