What To Look For In A Used Car Dealer

There are used car dealers all over the place, so how are you supposed to know which is a good one to go with? Which one is going to give you the price you want, with the services you need? It is difficult to figure out which dealership to go with and trust that you will get a good vehicle. Thankfully, there are resources out there to help, plus a few tips that can make the choosing process even easier. Here are some tips to help you find the quality used car dealership you deserve.

 

Look Around

Just because you pass a used car dealership regularly, and there may be quite a few people there each time you pass, does not mean it is the best used car dealership around. Look around and see what options you have near your home or workplace. Some of them may run ads that get a lot of people on their lot during specific days of the week, or hours of the day. What you want to see is people there consistently, for no other reason than the selection of cars they offer. If you go past during off hours, such as outside of regular commute times, and you see a lot of people then, too, it can be a good indicator.

 

Services You May Need

Buying a used car means that you understand this car is not in brand-new condition. It may still look like new, and maybe even run like new, but it has been used before. It will need repairs at some point. By going with a used car dealership that has its own service department, they will make sure their cars are thoroughly checked out before being put on the lot for sale and take care of any problems that occur during warranty period. And many dealers without their own service techs will have a relationship with a local service shop to take care of their inspection and repair needs.

 

Look at Dealer’s Ratings Online

There are a lot of places online that you can look at to see what a dealer’s ratings are from customers who have used them in the past. A great place to look for if a dealership has had any trouble is by looking up their Better Business Bureau rating. This will give you an idea of any problems the dealership may have had in the past, and how those problems were handled.

 

Prices and Financing Are In Line With What They Should Be

When you have an idea of the vehicle, or even type of vehicle that you want, you should do some research on it. Find out the approximate value of the vehicle before you ever step foot on a dealer’s lot. Figure out if the different bells or whistles that you want are worth much, and if so, how much they would affect the approximate price. Look at the price of what it would be as a base model up to a fully loaded model, so you have an idea of what price range to expect. This kind of info is readily available at Kelly Blue Book and Edmonds That way, when you get on a dealer’s lot that you think would be a good one to work with, you know if their prices fall in line with what the vehicle is worth. If the price is in line with what you found, then you know the deal is good. If the price is too low, then there may be something wrong with the vehicle, or if it is too high, they may not be a good dealership to do business with.

 

The same thoroughness should be followed when it comes to financing your car purchase. The single biggest factor that affects financing rates is your credit score. Other factors certainly play a role, such as your credit report, the amount of debt you have, and your income, but the actual credit score number is what the dealers usually look at first to get a sense of what type of financing and interest rate you would be eligible for. So, it is a good idea to find out what your credit score is and what your credit report looks like. You can get annual free credit reports from each of the three primary credit reporting agencies. Be sure to research the range of interest rates you can expect with your credit score.

 

Being a Part of the Local Community is Important

Used car dealerships that care about their community and reputation mean that they want to do right by the people who make them successful. If you find a used car dealer that is readily involved in what the community is doing, it shows that they care about their neighbors. Used car dealerships that want nothing more than a better bottom line will not put themselves out there as much. They won’t care about building a rapport with the people that make up their community.

 

On the other hand, those that form strong bonds with the people that surround them are often much better businesses to work with. They do care about helping those around them and want to have everyone leave with a good feeling about them. Look for used car dealerships that have regular community events, or sponsor community events on a regular basis. They may sponsor things and groups like local 4H events, things for Boy or Girl Scouts, or even food or school supply drives. These are great signals that the dealership cares about more than how much money they get at the end of the day, which is precisely what you want.

 

When you take all these tips and put them together, you are likely to find a good used car dealership in or near your area. You will get a good car or truck at an affordable price and be able to support a locally owned business. When you buy a used car or truck, it is important you feel as though you get a quality vehicle from a company that you feel comfortable with. We believe that by applying these tips, you are much more likely to get that.

 

At Eden Autos, you’ll get peace of mind knowing that you got a vehicle and financing that best match your needs and budget. You’ll choose from an inventory of pre-owned vehicles that all come with 5-day Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee, a Free Carfax report, and a 3-month or 4500-mile Comprehensive Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty. Feel free to stop by any time and meet with one of our friendly, knowledgeable staff members.