Car-buying tips from the experts at Consumer Reports, NerdWallet
Dearlers are in the drivers' seat, but there are things car buyers can do to make their purchasing experience smoother. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
You can't always get what you want.
New cars are in short supply, auto prices are soaring and consumers are scrambling.
But there are some things that shoppers can do to make the buying experience smoother, said Benjamin Preston, auto reporter at Consumer Reports, and Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet, a personal finance information company in San Francisco.
1. Be flexible. With the lack of inventory right now, you might not be able to get the make, model or features you would prefer in your new car. For example, General Motors has suspended the heated-seat option in some of its vehicles because of the microchip shortage, Preston said.
2. Plan ahead. “If you’re thinking you might need a new car within the next month or something, start looking around now because it could take a while,” Preston said.
3. Act fast but don’t get taken for a ride. There are rampant cases of dealers tacking on unreasonable, extra fees to sales transactions now, Preston said. If you feel uncomfortable, walk away. You can get a fair deal elsewhere. Always ask about fees up front before agreeing to a deal, Palmer said.
4. Be realistic about prices. There are plenty of buyers looking for cars, so dealers don’t have to give big discounts, and there aren’t a lot of manufacturer incentives right now, Preston said.
5. Request quotes in advance. Request quotes from dealers in advance, so you don’t waste your time in person. You can also use a site like Truecar.com to request quotes from multiple dealerships at once, Palmer said.
6. Look outside your area. You might be able to find more cars available and better pricing upstate or in a neighboring state, Preston said. But do your research in advance online and by calling dealerships before making a trip.
7. Verify that what you’re buying has all the features you expect. The window sticker is supposed to list everything, but it can be misrepresented by the dealer, Preston said. “Ask lots of questions. Push lots of buttons,” he said.
Tory N. Parrish covers retail and small business for Newsday. She has worked at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y.
Navigating politics over Thanksgiving and where to get holiday pies. Here's a look at some of the exclusive stories you may have missed this week on NewsdayTV.
Navigating politics over Thanksgiving and where to get holiday pies. Here's a look at some of the exclusive stories you may have missed this week on NewsdayTV.
