Conventional wisdom tells us that we should shop for a vehicle wherever the best deal is to be had – even if that means traveling hundreds of miles out of town to pick up that new ride. Sometimes, however, this isn’t so cut-and-dry, taking into consideration factors such as buying from a local dealership versus that out-of-the-way dealer. With a little research and comparison shopping patience, the best of both worlds can be achieved: An unbeatable deal at the dealership in your village.
Either way, there are advantages to buying a vehicle from a dealership in general, with all the rules of smart car buying applicable to local and far-away dealers alike. What’s more, the popularity of the internet has yielded local dealers that have to compete more than ever for your business, giving you the upper hand in negotiating.
1. More Vehicle Options
One of the top reasons to stop into your neighborhood car dealership is the variety of the vehicles they offer instantaneous access to; indeed, dealership showrooms and lots are more likely to boast vehicles of various types across a multitude of models and trim levels – both new and used – all there in the flesh for you to test out. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, the dealership can probably locate it online and have it delivered. What’s more, dealerships also offer a myriad of accessories, warranties, promotional incentives, and service options that a private seller may not.
2. Buying From a Reputable Business
Keeping buyers happy is how dealerships stay in business, and a large part of that fact is maintaining an impeccable reputation so they’re recommended to family and friends who may be looking for a car down the road. One way this is achieved is through high-quality, reliable vehicles that customers can count on every time they put that key in the ignition; of course, when talking new, this is all dependent on how well made the vehicle was coming off the assembly line, but in general, this is even more important for dealerships selling used cars since used vehicles have more uncertainty regarding reliability.
3. Knowledge and Expertise
With car dealerships come salespeople with years of expertise and experience, having sold a plethora of vehicles and served countless customers – which, in turn, helps them serve you better. Further, a good majority of them are more than happy to answer all queries, cover any technical-oriented points, and maybe even provide helpful suggestions regarding alternative options to consider. A salesman can also work with you to determine what will jive with your budget, what deals you could be eligible for and sometimes help you navigate the complicated financing waters.
4. Financing Options
Since we just brought up financing, let’s take a quick look at that factor. Car dealerships, in the brick-and-mortar sense, usually price cars more accurately while offering more reliable vehicles, overall, compared to the used vehicle scene. This is why lenders oftentimes lean towards providing financing for customers purchasing through a dealership faster than to those buying from a private seller; some dealerships offer their own proprietary options for financing, as well.
5. Post-Sale Service
Dealerships typically staff entire departments specializing in completing sale-related paperwork, saving you time and frustration; this normally includes registering the vehicle in your name with your local Department of Motor Vehicles and filing any sales taxes.
6. Regular Maintenance
Some dealerships also offer regular maintenance for the vehicles by qualified technicians, a service that is sometimes bundled into your original purchase in the form of an add-on maintenance contract.
7. The Trade-In Factor
When it’s time to move on to your next vehicle, dealerships usually accept your current model as a trade-in to help offset the cost of the new vehicle.
Buying a car from a dealership brings with it benefits that online retailers and private sellers can’t always hope to match, with one of the most significant of these being the sheer selection of vehicles dealerships give you to choose from. Even in the face of growing online retail channels, there are several reasons car dealerships shouldn’t disappear any time soon.