Buying a car has changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, most people spent hours at the dealership haggling over a final price, agonizing over paperwork and test driving a car. Now, most of the paperwork can be done from home, dealers refuse to haggle over prices, and test drives are short, timed trips.
Doing your homework before going to the dealership is more important than ever. If you’re looking for a new ride, there are a few questions to ask when shopping for a car. To make things easier for you, we’ve divided these questions into two categories: what to ask before you go to the dealership and what to ask once you’re there.
Questions to ask before going to the dealership
What safety features are standard?
Car salespeople need to know a lot about many different cars. Giving them the benefit of the doubt for a second, they can’t know everything, so it’s best to do your own research on what kind of safety features a car comes with. This is easy enough, as visiting an automaker’s official website on a vehicle and looking at the features or specifications page is the best way to see what features are standard.
All electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid or gas?
This is a question that may require you to look ahead a bit or do some research on what kind of local and state incentives you’re eligible for. Gas prices won’t be cheap forever, and some states plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in the near future. Do some research on where charging stations are, how much range you need and how much money the government will give you to buy an electrified vehicle.
Used or new?
If you think new cars are more expensive than ever, you’re wrong. New cars are very expensive and some models can be very hard to find. You might be looking forward to waiting a few months to get your new car, or having to order a custom model and wait a year. If you don’t mind waiting, a used car might be more readily available, although you’ll likely pay a premium to be able to take it home the same day.
What are the essentials and what can you live without?
Not planning to hit the road and live in an area where there is no snow? You probably don’t need all-wheel drive. If off-road is your thing, you may need to research which details of a specific model are best suited for off-road, which means you’ll probably need four-wheel drive.
The same goes for features. If you hate the cold and want something with heated seats and a heated steering wheel, then you shouldn’t compromise, especially at today’s prices. You should have a list of must-haves and things that would be nice to have. Try not to forget to pay more for a car with stuff you don’t want, which is a common sales tactic to get you to pay more.
Questions to ask the dealer
What is MSRP?
With all the benefits that are happening today, it’s important to know what the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, is. That’s what a car manufacturer thinks a car should cost, but that doesn’t mean you pay that price; dealers can add margins to increase prices based on demand. It’s horrible and the car manufacturers should do something about it, but they won’t. Just make sure you ask for the MSRP upfront so you know how high the markup and other fees are.
What kind of warranty does the car have?
This question is especially important if you are buying a used car or a certified pre-owned vehicle (CPO). A lightly used vehicle that is only a few years old may still have some of its original warranty coverage. It’s important to know how long an automaker will stand by a used car and what parts are covered.
Does it include free maintenance?
Many new vehicles now come with some kind of free maintenance plan. Whether that means a few free oil changes or tire rotations, it’s good to know what comes with your purchase as it can sway you towards a certain car.
Was the car involved in an accident?
This is mainly for used vehicles, as the chances of your new car being on the lot after being in a major accident are slim. While some shady sellers will try to dodge questions about accidents, it’s still a good idea to ask them in the hopes that they’ll be forthcoming. It might also be a good follow-up to ask to see the car’s CarFax, which should hopefully have information such as accidents and maintenance.
Are there spare parts in the car?
Again, this is mostly for a used vehicle. The type of replacement parts used by the previous owner can tell a lot about how the vehicle was used. If there are a lot of high-performance engine parts, upgraded suspension parts, stronger brakes, and stickier tires, it’s very likely that the used car was pushed hard or used for racing. If the aftermarket parts are cosmetic or performance-related, like an audio system, there’s less reason to worry that the car has been through a rough life.
Are there any discounts or incentives available?
In this day and age, when most people are paying above MSRP for new vehicles, incentives and rebates are becoming rare. It’s still a good idea to ask, as things like student discounts, loyalty incentives, and discounts on older but still new models might be available.
What type of financing is available?
Most dealers have their own in-house financing teams. Usually, they will have some form of financing for buyers. Unfortunately, dealer fees are usually higher than third-party fees, which means you can save money by choosing your own lender. The process of buying a vehicle with a third-party loan is more complicated than going to a dealership, so it pays to find out what kind of rates your dealership has.
How much is my change worth?
If you’re looking to trade in your current car for a new one, you should do some research to get a rough idea of how much it’s worth on websites like Kelly Blue Book, Black Book, Carvana, and CarMax. If you get an offer from CarMax or Carvana, it’s a good idea to print out the paper or have it easily accessible on your phone to show the dealership. Most of the time, dealers will match CarMax or Carvana offers.
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