The stereotype of a shady used car dealer is overblown. Most used car dealerships are trustworthy, but there are still those out there who will try to get away with something. How do you find reputable used car dealers?
Online Reviews
Find information from multiple sources, including Google reviews and reviews on websites like cars.com, dealerrater.com, and cargurus.com. These give you more than just scores. People often mention what they liked or disliked. They’ll give useful information about their experience, what you should know or ask for, as well as their experiences with car dealership customer service.
Written Guarantee
A dealer should be able to provide you a written guarantee of the car’s condition. If you check the CarFax report on the vehicle’s history and ask specifically about an accident, they should have that information, too. If they don’t disclose it when you ask, they either don’t know or they’re misrepresenting the vehicle. Either’s a red flag for their car dealership customer service.
Vehicle Preparation
Ask what a dealer does to prepare its cars for sale. Reputable used car dealers inspect and repair cars before selling. If there’s any element they choose not to repair because it’s superficial, they should let you know. They should be able to give you straight answers about their processes.
NIADA Membership
Look for the NIADA tag. If you don’t see, ask. The NIADA is the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. Members agree to meet certain standards in product and service.
Kelley Blue Book Values
Know the KBB value of the vehicles you’re looking at. The price at which you’re being sold a vehicle shouldn’t deviate very widely from that value. The exception is if the car comes with specific optional features.
Likewise, you should get a fair offer in terms of a trade-in. A trade-in is dependent on condition. If a dealer has to do work on it before selling it, expect that to be factored into the price.
Reputable used car dealers value their names and standing in the community. With a little bit of research and communication, you can feel much more confident when making a purchase.
