Surviving the Car Dealership

Buying a car can be a scary thing. New car dealerships may be filled with eager salesman driven by commission-only paychecks, making a sort of Hollywood show out of every interaction with a customer. It’s easy to see why many are not fond of going out to one of these establishments.

A car lot, especially the Hollywood new or used car dealers, are set up in a way that breeds this sort of behavior. Furthermore, it shouldn’t be assumed quality used vehicles are sold there, as they can be just as likely to pull scam jobs as a private seller. When buying anything from any sort of vehicle seller, it is common practice to do three key things.

Inspect Areas Out of Plain Sight

It is common knowledge that you should inspect any vehicle outside and in but is even more important to check areas that are hidden from view. These are areas where dealerships will likely try to cut corners. The trunk is a great indicator of the shape of the rest of the vehicle. If it is damp, has rot, or smells foul it is likely leaking, which will cause issues with other areas in the future.

Request a Vehicle History Report

Potential buyers should be requesting a vehicle history report on any used vehicle they purchase. If they do not have one to offer, online services will often be able to fill this gap. Entering the vehicles Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into some websites will show a complete history. Most places do have this information on hand if the customer asks to see it.

Negotiate

The biggest mistake most buyers make, especially with newer vehicles, is not negotiating. The price of a vehicle new or used can usually be brought down at least a small amount. The price your seller paid can be found by looking up the model using the Kelly Blue Book, and that number can be used to effectively move the price down.

Depending on the type of establishment the purchase is being made at, the likelihood of securing a lower price can be easy or difficult. The vehicle model also plays a role. A fancy luxury car at a brand new Hollywood car dealership will likely be difficult to bring the price down on.

Of course, these are just a few of the essential skills to surviving the process and coming out with a great ride. What type of place is being dealt with will have a significant impact on how the experience will play out. Many find locations they like and trust and continuously go back for every new vehicle for this exact reason.

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