How to Find a Reliable Pre-Owned Car Dealership
Posted Friday, Jul 21, 2023
Choosing to buy a used car is a big decision. The wrong choice could end up costing thousands of collars and endless repairs. Choosing the right car can make your life easier and the daily commute more reliable.
When evaluating your options, it may be tempting to go with a used car dealership that offers the best price.
But there are so many different aspects you have to consider before placing your trust in a used car dealership. Without access to the right sales personnel and collection of used cars, your search for a used car may go unnoticed.
To help you select the right used car company, we’ve outlined various different things to look for.
Look up Various Dealerships Near You
Like just about everything these days, it is easy to find a used car dealership via a quick look-up on search engines like Google and Bing.
Or you could simply ask people around you for recommendations on used car dealerships. The best-used car dealership carries your best interests in mind before recommending options. While profits are always a priority, a good used car dealership will also focus on solving your pain points with the used car.
But don’t stop just at word-of-mouth advertisements or what the dealership itself has to say about their services; it’s prudent to do some online research yourself.
In particular, you should check testimonials and reviews posted by previous customers. These may be found when viewing review aggregators like TrustPilot or simply the dealership’s Google My Business page.
Reading testimonials should give you a sense of which used car dealership is known for offering an excellent buying experience. Also, analyze how the dealership responds to negative reviews, of which you may see a few unexpected clients - as is true for every business out there.
Review how the business communicates with the dealership, its negotiation process, their customer service, and listing accuracy (whether the photos and copy they upload on their website match the actual car itself).
Longevity
Another point to consider is how long the dealership has been active in the market. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, businesses often fail to satisfy customers or use shady sales tactics. These businesses often shut down quickly because of all the bad faith they have accumulated. Establish used car dealerships that have spent several years in the market and are likely doing something right.
Take a Stroll Around the Dealership
As you may already know from experience, the appearance of a dealership and its employees can say a lot about how they do business as well as how well-maintained their cars are. Although it can be impressive to look at a shiny new dealership where everything appears to be perfect, it is just as important to check out other facilities that they may offer, such as the lot itself and service bays (if the dealership also runs a maintenance shop).
If you notice signs that other parts of the dealership may be a little unkempt, it could be a sign that the used cars at the dealership aren’t the best they can be. The same may also be said about the salespeople - if they don’t appear or sound professional, it may be best to take your business elsewhere.
Talk to the Salesperson
Another important part of the journey is to talk to the salesperson because it will reveal many truths about the used car dealership.
A bad salesperson can take the goodwill that a dealership has earned over the years, and a good salesperson can give you access to the best-used cars.
It goes without saying that the salesperson should be polite, ask you the right questions to make sure you’re getting the best vehicles that suit your needs, and do it pressuring you to buy outright.
A good salesperson will not try to use outlandish tactics to get you to buy a used car, often by claiming that the car has a special price that will end in just a few hours or that other people also have expressed interest in the car. Feel free to walk away from the used car dealership if the salesperson shows any of the above signs.
Look for any Perks of Shopping
Well used car dealerships will offer many perks to their clients. It’s a great way of differentiating one dealership from another. Most of these dealerships are competing for your business and will try to offer a better experience than their rivals.
A few examples of excellent perks include free car washes, favorable loan terms, free oil changes, and even tire rotations.
If you find a good car dealership that has a good reputation, a wide selection of cars, and nice perks, then you’ve found a winner.
Check out their Inventory
All good used car dealerships will maintain an online database of their existing collection of used cars for you to review. This online inventory will change depending on whether the dealership adds new cars or sells their existing ones. Moreover, you should be able to find essential details or information about the inventory within seconds.
Their inventory should include a wide range of vehicles to choose from. The online database should feature a search option to help you narrow down your search based on models, years, colors, and brands. You can also take advantage of other value-added services, such as dealership warranties and add-ons.
Warranties
Some used cars are still relatively new and are still protected by the original manufacturer's warranty. You should be able to take advantage of this warrant to help repair the vehicle once you have purchased it.
One of the perks of buying a used car from a reputable used car dealership is that they may also offer extended warranty protection, giving you peace of mind when you are buying a used car.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it, a detailed look at how you should buy a used car dealership. Remember to do your research before partying with your hard-earned money. Let us know if you’ve ever bought a used car before and what steps you used to research the used car dealership.
