If you are experimenting with the idea of buying a car online, but have a few apprehensions, then you should not worry, as there are a number of car dealerships and auto sales websites online that can offer you great value on both new and pre owned cars.
With a simple transaction you can get your hands on a brand new or used vehicle in absolutely no time.
However, there are a few things that you need to be concerned about.
These include staying away from con artists and other scams.
Read on to learn a few tips on how you can prevent this from happening.
Study the Seller - It is advisable that you stay away from con artists.
Do not get swayed in by a sweet deal on the ride you are looking for and conduct an in depth research about the merchant who is promising you the car.
Conduct an investigation for the company that is offering you the car.
Do not be amongst the few trusting consumers who have deposited a huge amount of their hard earned savings, never to see the sight of the car or of their money every again.
Consumer feedback and reviews are a great place to start so that you have a fair idea of whether the company is good or not.
Also taking a look at the Better Business Bureau database will give you satisfaction.
Photographs - Do not go by the ads you see about the vehicle.
They may hire a good copywriter and the marketing spiel may win you over.
However, you have to remember that a picture speaks a thousand words and you should only be convinced once you have seen the pictures of the automobile you are interested in.
Ask the seller to send you pictures from every angle, the inside of the car, the engine, bonnet, and whatever else you may need to see to know that the car is in good shape.
Get your hands on the car - If you have found a local seller, see if you can try and visit him and get your hands on the car and inspect it personally.
When you do so, you will be satisfied with your purchase.
You are saving time by skipping the step of going from one vendor to another, and therefore you should not cringe when the time comes to check out just one vendor.
Take a test drive, see if it comfortable and gauge if you are not being ripped off.
Vin Number - Make sure that you get access to the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
Run this number through the national database.
The VIN number is unique to every vehicle manufacturer.
These numbers are kept with all car dealerships, DMV, repair shops and police departments.
Having this number will allow you to know the cars history and you can also be sure that you are getting a genuine car, one that is not stolen.
Car Financing - If you do not have the money up front to buy a car you can always look for financing support through an online car dealer.
There are a number of car dealers online who specialize in car loans.
You could also find a car at a brick and mortar dealership and find a financer to finance it.
MyAutoLoan and Up2Drive are websites that offer instant approval on auto loans.
In some cases, you could also get an approval before you visit the dealer.
In this case it is important that you check the purchase price that is usually transferred to the dealer on your behalf.