Be Prepared To Pre-Order Your Next New Car

Even with some auto manufacturers rebounding back into production, car dealerships are still experiencing low or no new car inventories. People still want to buy new cars, but they have to change the way they shop.

Due to the recent shortage in new car inventory and production, it’s no longer possible to roll up to various car dealerships and drive home in the newest model. Shoppers find that they need to pre-order the car they want instead of being able to simply pick one out from their favorite dealer.

Here are some tips to help you understand the process and get the car of your dreams:

Car Dealerships Are Still Involved

One misconception about ordering a car online is that you are buying the car directly from the manufacturer. There are only a small handful of manufacturers that sell directly to the customer. Tesla is the biggest name doing this, but you can often order directly from other electric car startups like Rivian and Lucid Motors. If you’re looking for one of these automobiles, just go to the brand’s website and follow their instructions.

Otherwise, other brands still involved car dealerships in the transaction. You might be able to handle almost every step in the process online, but you’ll eventually need to visit the dealership to finalize the paperwork, arrange pickup/delivery, and so on.

The Easy Way To Pre-Order Your Car

If you want to tackle the ordering process seamlessly, there are a few things you’ll want to do:

1. Get approved for a loan. You can do this from a local lender or from the car dealerships in your area
2. Pick your dealership. Look at your options and see if anyone offers any additional perks like free maintenance, low price guarantees, etc.
3. Configure the car of your dreams. Instead of just going with what’s available on the lot, you can pick all of the packages, features, and options you want
4. Print paperwork. You should get a final results page with the specs of your new car
5. Schedule an appointment with your local dealership. Bring your paperwork. You can still haggle and negotiate like you would any car purchase. Make sure to ask for the “out-the-door price.”
6. Sign the final paperwork and pay any deposits. Not every car requires a deposit, but if you don’t put some money down, you may not have an actual reservation. Get copies of anything you sign
7. Wait. Your wait time will vary, depending on the brand, model, and options you choose. Car dealerships are usually pretty good about keeping you informed on your new car’s progress
8. Trade-in your old car. It’s best to wait until your new car arrives at the dealership before you start the trade-in process. Make sure the negotiation on your trade is a separate process than negotiating the price of your new car
9. Bring your new car home, show it off, and enjoy

Understand Your Deal

Once you sign the final paperwork, the deal should remain as is. That doesn’t mean a dealership might not try to add on a delivery fee or some other charge. Make sure you understand all of the fees and policies before you sign. If there is a disagreement on the fee, refer back to the contract.

You should also look over the policy if you change your mind. You might find a car you want at a different car dealership or maybe just want to go with a different option. It may be possible to cancel your order if your circumstances change. In today’s market, the dealership won’t have trouble selling the car, but you may still face financial penalties.

Ultimately, pre-ordering your car is a great way to get the exact build that you want. You can also avoid the stress of going to car dealerships and looking over their collections. You can still visit your local dealer to see vehicles up close, go on a test drive, etc. They might even help you start the ordering process.

Just because inventories are low doesn’t mean you can get the new car of your dreams; you just might have to wait for it.