7 Signs of a Shady Used Car Dealership

West Palm Beach used cars can be useful and stylish for years to come. This doesn’t mean you can trust any used car dealership. It’s important to have a few red flags. Dealerships are businesses, and you should have certain expectations of the service and product they provide. Beware these red flags, and only buy from dealers that can meet each concern pro-actively.

1. Lacking Good Inventory

Trust your eyes. If the inventory’s seen better days, and those days were the 1990s, you’re at a dealership that hasn’t kept up. It’s reasonable for a used car dealership to have some older cars, especially a classic here or there. If their inventory is mostly older or beat up, go elsewhere.

2. Open Recalls

A dealership should not sell you a car with an open recall. An open recall means that the car has a recall that has yet to be addressed. These almost always have to do with safety. You cannot trust a used car dealership willing to compromise on this.

3. No Mechanics

A used car dealership with a shop and ASE-certified mechanics has inspected the cars they’re selling themselves. This helps ensure quality used cars that have been maintained at a reasonable, in-house cost – that cuts down the price they pass on to you.

4. No Title

You must see the title to the vehicle you’re purchasing. You do not want to end up taking on a title that has a previous loan active.

5. No Warranties

If they don’t offer a warranty, that’s a red flag. You won’t find new car-level warranties on used vehicles, but you should expect a drivability warranty of at least 30 days – and preferably 60 or 90.

6. High Interest Rates

Check the interest rates, and do the math for yourself. You don’t want to end up with interest rates or an extended warranty that inflates the price of your vehicle to a ridiculous amount. Interest rates of 20% or more, combined with extended warranty, can catch you in a trap that makes you pay up to five times what the vehicle’s worth.

7. No Inspection

It’s worth it to have a used car inspected by mechanic you know and trust. This is an inspection you pay for, but the dealership should be cooperative with getting the car to the location. If they’re not, this is a red flag that the car may not be in as good a condition as they’re telling you.

Visit Palm Beach Auto Sales Outlet for a used car dealership that places integrity and quality first.