There are several differences between buying a used car from an independent seller and used car dealerships. These differences could work in your favor.
Most of us assume we’ll pay more for a used vehicle from a dealership than when we buy a car from an independent seller. While this is typically the case, you’ll have a bit more peace of mind and confidence when working with a dealer than an individual seller. That individual seller has one car to sell and doesn’t care what you think of them afterward; the dealership has many cars and does care.
1. Research is Always the Best Place to Begin
The internet is a beautiful and wonderful tool. It’s pretty easy to find thousands of cars that might meet your needs and give you the drive you desire. Before you head to the dealership location, figure out what you want in a car. Once you understand this, you’ll want to find vehicles that fit in your budget and are somewhat close to your location. The time you spend researching vehicles makes a huge difference when it’s time to buy.
2. Confirm Information Before You Visit the Dealer
Whether you call or use a messaging system to correspond with used car dealerships, you’ll want to confirm the information you find online in writing. Ask for the out-the-door price in writing before you ever go to the dealership location. Just because a salesperson gives you the price doesn’t mean you are under any obligation to purchase that vehicle. Confirm all information, including discounts and sales, and that the vehicle is on the lot.
3. Check Out the Dealership Ahead of Time
Before you ever leave your home to visit the dealership, check out the company. Are there unresolved complaints with the local consumer protection agencies? Does the dealership have a high rating on Google and Yelp? Use search terms including scam, review, or complaint and the dealership name to see if anything comes up. If everything checks out, you should have a pretty good time shopping with this company. More shoppers than ever at least check out the online reviews of any company before going there.
4. Ask for the Vehicle History Report
Most used car dealerships will likely have the vehicle history report ready for you and provide it along with the buyer’s guide, which is the window sticker that’s on most vehicles. If you ask for this report and a salesperson refuses to give it to you, it’s time to walk away and go elsewhere. You want to buy a car that hasn’t been in any accidents with damage to the frame. If the vehicle history report offers a good record of maintenance and no accidents, you can move forward with the car buying process.
5. Don’t Mention Your Trade Up Front
Yes, you arrived at the dealership in a car, and no, it’s not any of their business if you plan to trade it for your next ride. As soon as you mention the trade, the salesperson begins calculating the final price they’re willing to take, including the trade price. You don’t want to mention the trade until you have a final price on the vehicle and then have this price reduced by the amount of the trade, which gives you a much better deal.
6. Go for a Ride; This Could be Your Next Vehicle
It’s important to take any vehicle you’re thinking about buying out for a test drive before you sign any paperwork. This test drive is your time to learn everything you can about the car. Some used car dealerships will send the salesperson along on the drive; others might allow you to take the car for a couple of hours to where you want so that you can enjoy the vehicle and learn about it.
7. You Can Live Without Add-Ons; We Have a Different Solution
Do you really need to pay extra for a rearview camera on a used vehicle? Don’t add items to the used car you want to drive; they will cost a lot in the long run. Not only do many dealers markup these additional items well beyond what they should cost, but you’ll pay extra because these features will become part of the price of the car and you’re financing. If you really want these added items, buy the car first and pay for them out of pocket at a shop that specializes in these features.
8. An Independent Inspection is Important
When buying cars from used car dealerships, you should take the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an inspection. Tell the dealer you’re doing this because you’ll be gone for a few hours while it happens. Typically, you can have the inspection done while you’re on the test drive. If the dealer refuses to allow your inspection, this is another red flag, and time to walk away.
9. Negotiate the Right Price and Stay In Control
Used car dealerships employ salespeople that are charming, friendly, and good at their jobs. It’s easy for customers to forget they are the ones in control and not the dealership team. Don’t be afraid to walk away if you feel like you’re not getting the best deal possible for the car. Even if a dealership tells you they don’t negotiate their prices, you should be able to do so with used vehicles. There are other cars out there that will give you the drive you want, don’t settle for a bad price.
10. Make Sure the Title is In Your Name
You don’t want to get caught with a car title that belongs to someone else, but you have the car. That means the car isn’t actually yours. If you’re working with a dealership that you researched, you shouldn’t have any problem getting the title in hand or at least in your name when you finance the vehicle. This is one of the most important last steps in this process.
Buying vehicles from used car dealerships should be a much safer and more positive experience than buying from an independent seller. Stay alert, and don’t let the red flags fly during your buying experience.
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