Living in the digital age means finding a reliable and reputable used car dealer online before ever visiting the physical dealership. What should you look for?
Used car sales run the spectrum from excellent dealers that are nearly as good as new car dealers to locations that are so bad that you know you’ve been taken advantage of as soon as you leave the lot. Because there are so many choices, you’ve got to look for some signs that you’re dealing with a reputable and reliable used car dealer before you leave the comfort of your home to purchase your next vehicle.
What do the reviews say?
The reputation of any business hinges on its reputation, which is found in the customer reviews. A dealer you can count on will have been in business for many years, but that doesn’t always mean that the business is reliable, or at least in the way you need it to be. Read some of the reviews, check the star rating, and learn more about the reputation of the dealership. While reading the reviews, look for several that sound nearly the same; this is a sign of reviews that were paid for and could be a warning sign.
Does the dealership have a useful website?
Any reliable used car dealer should have an online presence and a website filled with digital tools that you can use. If the website isn’t easy to navigate or takes a long time to load on your mobile device, you should consider another dealership. Most dealers have dynamic websites with vehicle and service listings, high-resolution images, and digital tools like online scheduling and chat support to make it easier for you to connect with the dealership team online.
How diverse is the inventory?
Some dealers cater to specific vehicle types, and that’s fine, but there should be some diversity in the vehicle inventory. Additionally, dealers should encourage third-party inspections of their vehicles; this reflects transparency and confidence. If the dealership has nothing to hide, it should be pretty easy for you to get your inspection done and know that you’ve found the right vehicle to drive and enjoy. Some dealers will also offer to get a vehicle from another dealership if they don’t have what you want in stock.
Transparency matters
Everything you want to know about a used vehicle should be readily available to you. This is a sign of a reliable used car dealer which you’ll want to work with. You should have access to comprehensive vehicle history reports, accident histories, service records, and title status. Once you find the dealer that provides all of this information, look for vehicles with consistent maintenance history, clear accident and repair disclosures, and verified mileage records.
Professional sales team with customers in mind
A sales team can be professional but not customer-oriented, and some can be customer-oriented but not necessarily professional. You want both in your dealership. This means being on time and ready for appointments, respecting your time, and clearly communicating expectations. The professionalism can start with your online communication and should continue once you arrive at the dealership to look for the right vehicle to drive. The dealership environment should be clean, organized, and welcoming. You should have a positive experience every time you engage with the dealership team.
Pricing, financing, and warranties
Used cars can be a bit of a gamble, but you don’t want to gamble with the vehicle you trust to be your daily ride. A reliable used car dealer should offer some form of warranty, and some have partnered with automakers to provide certified pre-owned vehicles. Additionally, you should immediately see fair pricing that might even be compared to online pricing from reputable experts such as Kelley Blue Book. Finally, you should have several financing options, making it easy to choose the deal that’s right for you.
What happens after the sale?
Some dealerships that have been in business for a long time don’t have a service department to handle maintenance and repairs. That doesn’t mean they are bad dealers, but a dealership with the support you need after the sale can make all the difference. Dealers that provide maintenance and repair services allow customers to work with them several times during the ownership period of any vehicle. In addition to vehicle service, dedicated customer support time shows the dealer’s commitment to a lasting relationship with customers.
When you’re searching for a reliable used car dealer, these are things you should look for. If anything is off in one area, you should probably start looking elsewhere; there are many used car dealers for you to work with when searching for your next vehicle.
