Consumers looking for a great selection and a great price will be very interested in buying a used car. Used cars are great because there are so many different options available, and there are a lot of different dealerships that sell used cars. A lot of these dealerships use the same wording in the advertisements, and it can be hard for the average shopper to determine which dealership is going to be the best for them in terms of service, selection, and other offerings. In a field of so many dealerships how can you determine which one is the best used car dealership? We’re going to share some helpful things to look and ask for in order to help you find the best used car dealership.
Used Car Transparency
The most important aspect of used car buying is consumer confidence. That is why there are detailed history reports available from companies like CarFax. The used car dealership you are visiting should be able to give you a CarFax report on any of their used cars. This report lets you know the vehicle’s history when it comes to repairs and accidents. If the used car dealership you are at cannot produce a CarFax or other history report on the car in question, you should be very skeptical of the vehicle. Consumers deserve transparency. Professional used car dealerships will have detailed history reports on every single one of the vehicles they sell. If you’re looking for the best dealership, start with transparency. If you can’t get detailed histories for the used cars you are interested in, it doesn’t matter what other offers or services the dealership may offer they are clearly not a great place to buy a used car. Don’t waste your time on dealerships that can’t be transparent and up-front about the used cars that they sell. In the end, you’ll be the one paying for it when major issues arise.
Service Center
A lot of car dealerships have in-house service centers, but not all used car dealerships have service centers. Having an in-house service center, even if they don’t work on cars not bought on their lot, is more important than you might think. First and foremost, a dealership with a dedicated service center is going to be able to do a thorough 115-point inspection on every single one of their used cars. During this inspection process they will be able to weed out the used cars that have no business being sold so you can shop with more confidence knowing that the car you are looking at has passed a detailed inspection. The second reason why a service center offering is valuable is for the service. It is great to be able to take your used car to a team of service technicians who are already familiar with your vehicle. You’ll get better, more detailed service from a team that already knows your car inside and out than from a team of strangers. Plus, maybe your used car dealership will offer you service specials as a result of shopping with them. This can be a big bonus for used car buyers, and it can take a lot of the maintenance hassle out of your life!
Available Warranties
You are not going to get an extensive warranty with a used car purchase like you would if you bought a car new, but your used car dealership should offer you something. If you cannot get a 1000 mile/30 day warranty with your used car purchase, the dealership selling you the car has little to no confidence in the vehicle, and you shouldn’t be buying it anyways. Just because you are buying a used car does not mean you shouldn’t have a warranty on your purchase too. It won’t last very long, but there needs to be some coverage. Great used car dealerships will also offer you additional warranties to go on top of your 30 day/1000 mile warranty that you can purchase. You shouldn’t shop at any used car dealership that doesn’t offer some sort of warranty coverage on their used cars. If you’re looking for the best used car dealerships, you need to get warranty options!
Financing Options
One of the most important aspects of any used car dealership are the financing options they can offer their customers. Having an on-site financing team helps the dealership extend customers the best possible financing options. There are traditional avenues of financing through credit unions, banks, and other lending institutions, and there are also dealerships that will offer buy here pay here financing. Whatever the case may be, it is important to work with the financing staff at the dealership because they will be able to work with you to get the right financing deal for your budget. The best used car dealerships will have financial professionals and other resources to help you along every step of the way.
Great Selection
Finally, the one thing that every great used car dealership must have is a great selection of vehicles. The best part about buying used cars is the sheer amount of options available to consumers. If you go to a dealership and there are not a ton of great options, you’re not at the best possible used car dealership. You should be able to find just about any car you want used if you look hard enough.
Friendly Staff
The best used car dealerships have more than just a great selection, a number of financing options, warranties, and a service center. What really sets any dealership apart from another is their friendly staff and their attention to detail. You can’t put a premium on great service, and if you want to go to the best used car dealership, you need to go to the one where great customer service is guaranteed. A friendly staff will not only help you find the car that you’re looking for, but they will help you determine which model and make is the perfect fit for your life.
When you’re ready to buy a used car, don’t compromise! Keep these aspects of the best used car dealerships in mind, and have a good time shopping for your next car!
