Questions to Ask Car Dealerships

Buying a new car is one of the most significant decisions that you will make in your life. After our house, it is the next biggest investment that we will probably make. Whether you are looking for a replacement, an upgrade, or planning to keep it, it is essential to know what you are getting from your dealership. You need to be aware of the protection, the payment terms, financing, and anything related to what you are buying. To help you with your choice, we list some questions to ask car dealerships when buying a new car.

What Questions to Ask Car Dealerships

Before we start asking a question to a dealership, there are some questions to ask yourself first when planning to buy a new car. How long do you plan to drive this car; are you planning to use it for several years, or are you planning to replace it after 2-3 years? Will you shoulder the monthly payment if you opt for their financing scheme? What is your proposed budget? You need to answer these questions before you even visit a car dealership.

What Are the Car’s Safety Features?

Nowadays, it has become more crucial for car shoppers to understand the advanced safety technology of the car they plan to buy. Ensure that the vehicle you are considering is packed with the technology you desire. Be sure to add this to your list of questions to ask car dealerships when buying a used car. Here are some of the safety features you may want to look into.

• FCW (Forward Collisions Warning)- It features a sensor like radar or camera that will alert the driver if there is a possibility of a crash. There will be an audio or a visual warning telling you that you need to step on the brake, change lanes, or reduce your driving speed.

• AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking)-This will notify the driver if it detects an object or a pedestrian that you might hit. If you fail to push on the brake, the safety system will automatically activate, which may prevent a collision.

• Brake Assist- This feature is necessary for those who need to make an emergency stop.

• BSW (Blind Spot Warning)- This will notify you if there is a vehicle in your blind spot.

What Other Features Does the Car Have?

The car you are planning to buy will come with several features, so you must make this clear by knowing the right questions to ask car dealerships. From the sunroom to several tech features, choosing the right one will make your car driving experience a satisfying one. Additionally, you will be paying for these features, so it only makes sense that you know them.

• 360-Degree Camera- Nowadays, a 360-degree camera is usually equipped in the car that catches your attention. This system will provide you with a bird’s eye view of your vehicle.

• Evasive Steering- There are times that no matter how concentrated you are, unexpected things can still happen. To prevent any unfortunate events, some companies introduced an evasive steering feature.

• Launch Gear- For most car shoppers, the combination of fuel efficiency and excellent performance will bring them the best value for their hard-earned cash. With Launch Gear, it is now possible to improve efficiency and boost the ratio spread by as much as 15% without wear and tear.

• Sound Enhancement- It is no longer enough to drive a car; people now want to be entertained. With the sound enhancement, you will be able to hear the sound of your engine.

• Device Connectivity- It should be possible for you to control some of the functions of your car using a voice control system.

• Fast Charging USB Outlet- You will most possibly hit the lane with all your gadgets. If you connect your phone to your car’s entertainment system, you don’t want it to lose charge. Luckily most of the vehicles come with a fast-charging USB outlet.

Can I Take this For a Test Drive on Highway?

When taking the car for a test drive, make sure that you will be taking it in a route that you will regularly take. If you are taking the highway most of the time, make sure that the dealership will allow you to take it there for a test drive. If you are doing a bunch of city driving, be sure that you will take it there for a test drive. You can get a better glimpse of the car’s performance if you do it that way. Be sure to add this to your list of questions to ask car dealerships when buying a new car. Here are more things to consider when taking a car for a test drive.

Are You Allowed to Take the Used Version of this Car for a Test Drive

If you are planning to buy a new car, you should ask the car dealership if you can take the used version of the vehicle. All new vehicles will feel amazing when you drive them. You want to make sure that it will still serve its purpose two years from now. If you are going for a reputable dealership, there’s a high chance that they have an older version of this car. Remembering these questions to ask car dealerships will help you get an overall performance of the car.

Avoid Playing Music

Be sure to avoid playing music while on a test drive. You need to focus on the sound that the car makes. The music can take your focus away from the squeaking and the cranking sound. You need to listen to any unusual sounds that the car might make.

Testing the Suspension

When taking the car into the rough road, check how severe the bumps will be. If you are feeling the nudge, the car’s suspension may not be that strong.

Do Not Be Too Excited

We know that you are excited to take it for a test drive, but you should control your enthusiasm. You need to be neutral and inspect the different aspects of the car thoroughly.

How Long Will the Test Drive Be

Knowing what questions to ask car dealerships will help you get an overall feel of the car and catch the subtle issues. There are instances when the dealer will allow you to take this car for an extended test drive; however, there will often be an agreement about this. For example, you can only add less than 100 miles on the odometer. You will also be required to carry insurance and return the car with the same fuel level.

Do They Offer Special Financing?

We often recommend car shoppers look for a financing option before going to a car dealership. Also, you should avoid mentioning to the car dealer that you have already inquired about financing from the credit union or bank. Nonetheless, considering these other questions to ask car dealerships when buying a used car would make you a savvy car shopper.

• What is the Interest Rate- Since we assume that you have already gone into different credit unions and banks, it will be easier to compare the interest rates. The dealership rates may vary from flat to floating. Understand that even a tiny difference can significantly impact the amount you will have to repay.

• How Much Do You Charge for Deferred Payment- There are instances when the dealership will offer a ‘6-month no repayment’ term. Pay attention to their fine print since there is a chance that you will collect interest throughout this period.

• Do Your Financing Come with a Foreclosure Penalty- If you choose to pay the loan in a lump sum rather than completing the repayment period, some dealers will charge you for that. Their foreclosure rate will be different, so you have to be aware of that.

Does it Come with a Warranty?

One of the questions to ask car dealerships is related to their warranty. You want to know that your car is adequately covered if something breaks unexpectedly. You must be aware of this, especially if you buy a used car. Here are what you want to hear from the car dealership when asking them about the warranty.

• Warranty on Maintenance- You want to know if their warranty covers the component of your car. It may also cover the parts that should be replaced regularly, like the wipers, brakes, and oil. It will help you better understand the cost of ownership.

• Manufacturer’s Warranty- When buying a used car, there are instances when the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid. You should check the Buyer’s Guide to have a complete understanding of this. To gain the full benefits of the car warranty, you should confirm what is included in the warranty and if it is transferrable. Talk to them and ask them these questions to ask car dealerships and request the warranty document.

• Details of the Warranty- If your used vehicles come with a warranty, there’s a likelihood that the coverage could be limited. The warranty details will provide you some specifics on the vehicle’s service contract, particularly on who would be responsible for the repairs.

• Extended Warranty- The worthiness of the extended warranty will depend upon your unique situation. Therefore, it should still be added to your list of what questions to ask car dealerships. When buying a used car, you will have the option to purchase a service contract or an extended warranty. If you want to know that it will be beneficial for you, consider its transferability, dependability of the vehicle, cost of warrant vs. cost of repairs, and the requirements for repair.

Am I Allowed to See the Car’s Maintenance History?

Since you plan to buy a used car, you want to ensure that it comes with a complete service history. It will give a good glimpse of how well the vehicle has been maintained. It will also help you know the recurring issues about the car. The service history may include tire change, wheel alignment, oil change, etc. Here’s how you should check the service history of your vehicle.

• Look out for the Red Flags- Some details in your car service history may warrant some price reduction.  For instance, the car may have been previously written off. In this case, the dealer may previous decided that the cost of repairs will be higher than the car’s market value. You should also look at the odometer. Look for signs that they rolled it back, it is an indication that the dealership is not trustworthy.

• Maintenance- The car’s maintenance history will tell you if the previous owner took care of the vehicle well.

• Stolen Car- The service history will also tell you if the car has been listed as stolen. You should never buy something stolen since it will lead to several issues.

Whether you are buying a used or a new car, it pays to prepare a list of questions to ask car dealerships before visiting their car lot. You should not take this purchase lightly. Be sure to take all your time and be prepared.