For most people, going directly to a car dealership to check out cars before choosing one was the only way to buy a car. Many probably thought that going in person gave more peace of mind but, by not checking out online resources, people are not being efficient and aren’t saving as much time and money as they think.
If you’re in the market to buy a used car, your next great purchase may be online! That means it’s important to know early on the steps you’ll have to take and resources available to you so you can make sure that you’re getting the best deal possible. Before you start your search, check out our tips below to ensure all your bases are covered.
1. Set a Budget
We all know that before you buy a car, you have to set a budget for yourself. You’ll have to consider your current income, how much you’re willing to spend monthly on your car, and how your car bill might affect your future. Once you do these, you can start to look at what cars might fit with you.
To make budgeting easier, there are many online resources such as affordability calculators and down payment calculators that let you determine the total cost of a potential car and how it will compare with your income, any loans taken out, and more. With these calculators, you can organize all your numbers together quickly and get an overview that will help you insert smaller costs, such as gas, maintenance, and other necessities.
2. Get Preapproved for a Loan
The days of going to a bank or loan provider in person is over. Getting a preapproved loan offer is easier than ever thanks to many providers having online applications. As long as you have all of your information with you, you can easily apply with more than one loan company, seeing who might give you the best deal. Having this capability totally streamlines the car buying process, allows you to save your time wisely by not walking into a dealership without some kind of financing offer in your hands, and can be a great way of reestablishing your credit if it’s not in the best shape.
An important tip to remember though is to do your research and check out multiple providers, whether they’re banks, credit unions, or smaller private companies. You’ll more than likely find one that’s willing to work with your current credit score and how much you’re willing to put as a down payment!
3. Find the Right Model Near You
The greatest feature of buying a car online is being able to see endless inventories of vehicles near you. This can make the buying process much easier as you can search for the precise make and model for as long as you want, and you won’t get bothered by forceful salesmen.
We advise checking out inventories locally first to get an idea of what you would like. This will make any trips to dealerships much easier as you won’t waste too much time and gas just looking. More than likely also, these dealerships might be able to advise you about another great car on their lots that you didn’t consider at first.
4. Check Carfax and Vehicle Reports
Before being able to check out Carfax reports and other documentation about a potential new car, you had to go to the car dealership to obtain all information and trust that they were providing you with everything. Thanks to vehicle report resources online, such as AutoCheck and many others, you can quickly check out the details about a car and consider whether it’s worth buying.
Some of the important information you’ll need to pay attention to is whether it has a clean title, if serious accidents were reported on it, and what maintenance was performed and when. Make sure to always have one of these resources in hand as they can also help during the haggling process, whether it’s done online or in person! With an in-depth car report, you might be able to negotiate your way to a total lower cost.
5. Talk Online to Sales Representatives
Many online dealers now have the capabilities of chatting with customers online. If you are taking the online route, you’ll most likely encounter experienced salesmen that know the importance of online sales due to their simplicity. You’ll be able to talk to someone knowledgeable and savvy without any stressful face-to-face haggling.
By talking to sales representatives online, you’ll also be able to speed along the business transaction. When you get to the dealer to see the car you’re choosing, you won’t have much more to do before you can drive it off the lot!
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