Car-buying services shop for you
Are you thinking about buying a new car, but dreading the dealer haggles that come with the purchase? There are a number of car-buying services that say they’ll do the negotiating dirty work for you, and save you thousands of dollars in the process.
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These services are often just a mouse click or phone call away. Fees range from free (if you’re a member of one of their affiliates) to anywhere from $200 to $400, with about half of the amount due upfront.
Buyers typically begin by calling the car-buying service or filling out information online.
“People go to our Web site and put in their contact information,” says Marcus Sanchez, chief operating officer of No Haggles, a car-buying service in Warner Robins, Ga. “Then, one of our automotive specialists calls them back and conducts a 15-minute interview.
“They get all the information about the vehicle the buyer wants, their trade-in (if any) and their credit information for financing. Then, we go to work looking for the vehicle.”
New vehicle searches make up the bulk of the car-buying service business. Because common car models are readily available at dealerships nationwide, the process is fairly quick.
Between three and five days typically pass from the time you contact a car-buying service to the moment you drive your new car off the lot. Special orders can take longer.
“We have a 72-hour turnaround time,” Sanchez says. “Sometimes, we’re even able to turn it around within a few hours. It depends on what the customer’s looking for and the availability of the vehicle.”
Car-buying services try to negotiate a price with the dealer that’s close to invoice price, which is the amount the car manufacturer charges the dealer.
“Once we’ve secured the vehicle, we’ll get a printed buyer’s agreement from the dealer with that dealer’s signature on it,” Sanchez says. “Then, we’ll share that information with the consumer and set an appointment for delivery.”
Car-buying services can make the shopping experience less of a hassle. But are these services a good deal? Before you try one, here are six things you need to know.
6 things to know1.You need to choose carefully2.Services offer a lot of help3.Negotiation should go beyond price4.Deals on popular cars are scarce5.Some services may be free6.You might do better on your own
You need to choose carefully
Choosing the right car-buying service is essential to getting a good deal, says Lauren Fix, author of “Lauren Fix’s Guide to Loving Your Car.”