How to Distinguish an Excellent Used Car Dealership?

Posted Monday, Aug 07, 2023

The thought of finding a used car can be intimidating, especially when considering the many, many used car dealerships you will have to go to find the perfect car for you. However, if you are lucky to find a good used car dealership in your area, the search for finding that perfect car does get easier and a lot cheaper. So, how does one set out to find a good used car dealership? Let’s find out.

Online Reviews

This has got to be one of the easiest ways of spotting a good used car dealership because you get to do it without even leaving the comfort of your home. The internet has changed the way we do things, and that goes for buying cars too. So, what are you going to look for in the reviews of a used car dealership? Nothing fancy; peeking at the reviews that have been left by previous customers will get you a good idea of what to expect.

While it would be difficult to find that perfect used car dealership (unless you’re working with Royal Auto Dealer!), the reviews left online are a great way to gauge what areas a particular used car dealership excels in. Do they provide excellent customer service? Are they reliable when it comes to delivery and shipping? Do they offer good auto financing products? What about the actual vehicles in their inventory, are there many to choose from and come with a pre-inspection report? These are just some of the areas that you can find information on while strolling through the used car dealership’s reviews.

Do They Provide a History Report?

This is obvious when purchasing a secondhand vehicle. Before you buy a car, you should request a vehicle history report from the used car seller. Reputable dealerships will gladly provide you with a full report on every vehicle in their inventory. Requesting a car history report is an important aspect of the purchase process since it provides you with detailed information about the vehicle's background. In other words, if the car has been in an accident or has been damaged by a hurricane or flood.

Auto Check and Carfax provide some of the most reliable car history records available. However, it is feasible to obtain information on a used automobile from other sources, but other providers aren’t as trusted as the two options given above.

For example, Carfax, on the other hand, provides users with complete and thorough information on the vehicle's history. Because these reports are linked to a vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), they cannot be copied or changed. The data is also often gathered during the life of the vehicle, ensuring that you have comprehensive knowledge about the vehicle you are going to purchase.

Extended Warranties

After you've agreed on a price for your vehicle, you might receive an invoice that includes charges for extras such as an extended service warranty or some other type of warranty for the vehicle you're purchasing. These add-ons are incredibly profitable for dealerships, but they will almost definitely add little value to the purchase. If you're interested bear in mind that prices are always negotiable. If you're not interested, you can inform the dealer you want to buy the vehicle without any extras.

A Three-Way Transaction

Most good folks think of buying a used car as a single transaction process. All you must do is point at the car you like on the used car dealership’s website, pick a payment option…and you’re done. If only it were that easy, because it’s not, and every used car salesperson knows this. Buying a used car entails a three-way transaction process. As in the price, trade-in value; and auto financing. The bad news is all there are great for the dealership to make money on you. But we always like to see the glass half full, which means there are areas where you can save as well.

So, treat your transaction (all three of them) separately, which is the same way the used car dealership will. That said, it is possible to find a used car dealership that does offer great services in all three areas of the used car buying process.

Get it in Writing

Once you've agreed on a price for your automobile, you can get an invoice with costs for extras like an extended service warranty, security system, paint protection, or rust treatment. These extras are extremely profitable for the auto dealership but will almost certainly add little value to your vehicle. If you are interested in one of the offers, please keep in mind that the prices are adjustable. If you're not interested, you have the option of telling the dealer that you want to buy the car without any extras.

So, You Don’t Know Anything About Cars

This is more of a takeaway tip for when you’re actually at the used car dealership. Most good-hearted folks like to start a conversation with the used car salesperson with a little honesty. Bad idea. If you don’t know much about used cars, or buying one for that matter, keep it to yourself while you’re at the used car dealership. The research that you’ve conducted online prior to your visit, coupled with seeing and discussing the vehicle options and auto financing, should give you enough ammunition to use during the haggling process.

Choosing a used car can be a lot of hard work, which is why you need a reliable used car dealership such as Royal Auto Dealer - La Verne to help guide you through the process. Not only does this used car dealership offer a large inventory of vehicles with plenty of options, but you also get to take advantage of their auto financing products, easy payment methods, and hassle-free shipping.