Unfortunately, dealerships still have a miasma of a stigma surrounding them. Itâs a hangover from the past when going to a dealership meant the consumer had zero control, and the stereotype is that car salespeople take advantage of that lack of information. Times have changed. Now, consumers have just as much information as the dealers. In fact, dealerships are largely wholly transparent. Although there is still some wiggle room for negotiations sometimes, for the most part, the information is attainable for all parties.
However, youâll still want to ask some key questions, especially if youâre buying a used car. The information is probably readily available, but you donât want to have to pore over all of the data for every car youâre considering.
Itâs in the salespersonâs best interest to be helpful and honest because they know youâre going to have access to that information anyway.
Things get a little trickier if youâre buying from a private party. Youâll still want to ask certain questions, but thereâs no way to ensure theyâre being honest unless you get a third-party check on your vehicle. Youâll want to see a title check and might want to have an unbiased company perform a maintenance check on the vehicle, too.
Here are some of the top questions to ensure you donât get stuck with a lemon:
- Has it been in any accidents? This is very important because even if it was a minor fender bender, if the accident was reported, itâs on the carâs report history. This inherently decreases the carâs value, even if itâs been completely repaired. This is called a âdiminished value.â If the damage was minor, you may still want the car. However, youâll also want the price adjusted to reflect the lower value.
- When was the last time it underwent maintenance? Youâll want to know if there will be any surprises when you buy a used car, and one of the best ways to gauge this is by asking about the last time a professional looked at it. This isnât as prevalent at dealerships since many dealerships recently had their on-site mechanic care for it (especially if the dealership bought the car from a consumer). However, with a third-party seller, youâll want to see records. If they donât have them, they should be able to get them from the mechanic.
- Has it been in a flood? This is especially important to ask if you live in a high-flood zone or if the region in general is known for flooding. Flood cars âfloodedâ the market post-Sandy and Katrina, and they can be very dangerous. However, they are also much tougher to gauge than an accident. Flood damage can ultimately lead to dangerous black mold and rusting of brakes. Only a mechanic can tell if a car has been in a flood, and if youâre buying from a private party, youâll want to make sure a third-party mechanic checks for this.
- Is this your best price? You donât have to necessarily pay the asking price, whether youâre at a dealership or working with a private party. A lot of the time, thereâs at least some room for negotiation. At a dealership, they might truly be at their lowest price but may be able to offer additional perks like an extended warranty. The worst thing that can happen is that theyâll say the price is firm.
Used car shopping can (and should) be fun these days. You have countless options at your fingertips, and more negotiating power than ever because of all the information online. When you start shopping, have a list of âmust havesâ when it comes to your future ride. That can help you stay on track.