In many ways, used cars are more advantageous than brand new cars. You won’t have to worry about losing significant value in your car, you won’t put a massive dent in your wallet and you can research common issues with the car you want before you buy it. That’s something every driver can get behind the wheel of!
You can’t go wrong with a used car, but you can go wrong if you choose a bad dealership. A car purchase is a long term commitment, especially if you’re financing the purchase. When you’re working with a phenomenal dealership, the commitment is seamless and beneficial. To learn how to find the best used car dealership near you, continue reading below.
Consider Your Wants, Needs & Financial Goals
Before shopping at any dealerships, it helps to have a clear idea of what you would like to purchase and what kind of service you’d like from the dealership. You can devise a clear idea by writing down all your wants, needs and financial goals. There are thousands of car options and dealerships out there - you’ll save some time by determining what you’d like now!
Keep in mind that a want is something you desire, but isn’t absolutely necessary, for example, heated seats. Whereas a need is something you definitely can’t do without, an example is Bluetooth if you are on the road a lot for work and need to take calls. Needs and wants are different for everyone - a need to you might be a want for someone else!
Below are questions you can ask yourself when determining your wants, needs and financial goals:
- What type of car do you want? SUV? Sedan? Hatchback?
- What car make and model do you want? (You can choose more than one for now!)
- What features do you need your car to have? Ample seating? Bluetooth? Sunroof?
- How much do you want to spend on your car every month?
- Do you want to finance the car with the dealership or another lender?
- How much do you want to spend on a down payment?
- Do you need an open loan that you can pay off at any time?
- How much time are you willing to spend making your car purchase?
Research, Gather Options & Compare
Now that you know exactly what you want in a used car, it’s time to start looking for a dealership near you! When finding dealerships in your area, there are two methods you can use:
Find a Used Car Dealership on Your Own
You can find a used car dealership on your own by browsing the web and by asking friends and family who are used car owners for suggestions. The benefit of this option is you’ll go through the process of finding information about dealerships on your own which will make your knowledge more rich. In addition, if you get a reference from a friend or family member, you will have more faith in the dealership since it’s from a trusted source.
On the other hand, this option can be time consuming because you will need to visit all the dealerships on your own until you find what you want. Not everyone has the time to perform research on their own because it can take multiple in person sessions. Further, not all dealerships offer financing, meaning you will need to spend more time securing financing for the purchase. You will also need to come prepared with questions for the dealership to ensure that you’re getting all your needs satisfied. If you don’t ask the right questions, you could end up with a lemon!
Use a Third Party to Connect You With a Dealership
With the marvelous boom of financial technology, better known as fintech, you can connect with a dealership that suits your needs through a third party. Using a third party involves less work and time on your end because the third party has done all the work for you. In fact, applications only take a few minutes to complete! Another benefit to using a third party is they offer financing to those who need it. If using a third party interests you, visit this website to get your first offer.
On the contrary, going through a third party can come with hidden fees and higher interest rates. On the surface, higher costs are an automatic no for most. But remember, the third party will have spent the time doing research to find an ideal dealership near you that has the car of your dreams on your behalf. Higher costs is a small price to pay for such service!
Keep in mind that the two options above aren’t mutually exclusive. In other words, you can look for dealerships on your own and obtain a quote from a third party, it’s not one or the other. As a matter of fact, it’s wise to exercise both options! The more offers you gather from potential dealerships, the more you have to compare and contrast.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Forget to Read Reviews!
Once you’ve either narrowed down your options to a few or selected the dealership that meets all your desires, be sure to do one final check: read reviews! Reading reviews only takes a couple of minutes and can save you from working with a horrible dealership.
This step can be done anywhere in the process, but it is definitely something you should check before making any kind of purchase from a dealership. Dealerships are not known to always have your best interests at heart, reading reviews can help you anticipate what kind of service you’ll get. After this one final check, select the dealership you want most and drive off the lot!
