Is it Better to Buy a Used Car Online or from a Dealer

There are several reasons to buy a used vehicle in person. The easiest analogy is purchasing clothes. Often, purchasing clothes online is a nightmare because each company’s sizing is a bit different, you never know how the clothes will fit, or if you’ll even like how they look on you. We need to go into the store to try out the shoes, dresses, suits or shirts that we want. The same is true for car buying. Generally, we all have an idea of what we want when purchasing a used car. But without test driving it, we can never know if there is a flaw that will make us hate the car — the seats aren’t the right fit, how it sounds on the road, if its acceleration is too gutsy, or not gutsy enough. You must actually drive the vehicle to find these things out.

Many online used car stores offer a trial period, but when a consumer tries out the vehicle and decides they do not like it, returning the car can be difficult. Reports are showing that these trial periods can be scams or online sellers do everything in their power to avoid having the car returned. In contrast, shopping at locally owned dealerships makes it easy to get a response almost immediately if an issue arises. Not only can you give them a call, but you have the option to stroll right in and talk to them. Another great part of buying through local dealerships is the huge selection of vehicles, so finding your perfect fit is a breeze. There’s no need to deal with a lousy used car and a difficult return system when your knowledgeable salesperson has helped you find the car you love.

In person car buying might seem intimidating at first, but in fact it is so much simpler and easier than purchasing a used vehicle online because you have a dedicated salesperson guiding you through the process. When making other big purchases, like buying a home, having someone to help you through the process can give you peace of mind and makes it so much easier! So just like when you buy a home through a real estate agent, having a knowledgeable, transparent, salesperson to converse with makes all the difference when making big and important purchases.

When you buy a used car from our dealership, you can get the best of both online and in-person buying. Like with online-only stores, our dealership’s website allows you to browse our inventory 24/7, get trade-in information, calculate your monthly payment, and even complete most of the paperwork from the comfort of your home. All that’s left is for you to come in to sign on the dotted line and pick up the keys. But unlike online-only used car stores, you also have the option to pick up the phone or stop by our dealership to speak to our sales staff directly if you have any questions during or after the buying process.

There are many other benefits to purchasing a used vehicle from us too! We have a great selection of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles that come with extended warranties and other great benefits. Additionally, we offer exclusive service warranty add–on’s you won’t get from online used car stores, plus, we regularly offer additional purchase incentives on our used vehicles. We also have an in-house service department, finance department and a host of other helpful staff members that are here to educate and guide you on your vehicle purchase and be there for you after the sale.