Buying Used Car the Right Way

Crown Auto Sales and Finance is a good used car dealer. We treat our customers fairly and provide them all with terms that they can afford and a reliable pre-owned vehicle to suit their individual needs. But honestly there are other dealers that aren't as reputable as us. That means that you, the consumer, must protect yourself. So here are some basic tips to avoid future heartache.

Don’t Just Inspect The Car, Inspect The Dealer Too!

You may have found the car of your dreams at a price you can afford but before you put your hard earned money down on the table make sure that you research the dealer as well. Check what other people are saying about them. Customer Reviews are a well-known feature on websites such as Yelp and Yellowpages, so they are always a good place to start. But also check their Facebook page and Google as well. Some former customers will have negative things to say and some will have positive, but at any rate it will give you a better understanding of the company that you plan on doing business with. Also check with the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau is a nonprofit, non-partial organization that exists solely to build consumer trust and it allows consumers to report to any issues that they have had with a certain company, as well as that company to respond to those issues. So researching the dealership in which you pa to buy from on the Better Business Bureau will give you a definitive tract record of how they deal with issues concerning the quality, maintenance, warranty coverage, as well as any other issues with their vehicles. In short, while you may have covered the history of the vehicle itself using Carfax or any other vehicle history report will give you an understanding of the quality of vehicle that you are wishing to purchase, researching the company will give you an equal understanding of the kind of people that you are dealing with in the company itself.

Find a Mechanic

Here at Crown Auto Sales and Finance we have a fully-staffed and modern Service Department that repairs, reconditions, maintains, and details every single one of our vehicles before they every reach one of our four dealerships. Also, we will provide nearly any maintenance or repair need that your vehicle may have after you purchase it and drive it home. We also are very upfront in providing detailed vehicle history reports on all of our vehicles to every person who is looking to buy from us. These reports not only show any damage or wear that the vehicle has experienced but also the steps that we as a company have taken in order to assess and repair any problems on the vehicle before it comes out to the lot to be sold to you. But automotive mechanics are like family doctors. Oftentimes there is a level of trust and understanding that comes with years upon years of inter-personal relationships and trust built up by the quality service that they have provided you. So even if the dealership that you plan on buying from, like us, may have inspected, maintained, and repaired the vehicle make sure you have scheduled an appointment with your own personal mechanic and ask the dealership if you can take the vehicle for an extended test drive.  During the test drive go to your mechanic for your scheduled appointment and get the vehicle checked out yourself. This is not to say that the dealership itself hasn't provided a quality vehicle or has service people that do shoddy workmanship but is rather to give you, the customer, the peace of mind that comes with an impartial analysis of the vehicle from a second source. This is to give you peace of mind, after all this will be your vehicle for much longer than you will spend on the lot haggling.

Don’t Be Afraid to Walk Away

Although we here at Crown Auto Sales and Finance adhere to only the highest standard of customer service, we will readily admit that not all used car dealers are created equal. So don’t let the sales person make you feel pressured into a commitment today. Simply put, if you are not ready then you are not ready. Take your time and find the right vehicle for you. After all at the end of the day it is your money that you will be spending and it will be your car as soon as you drive it off the lot.

At the end of the day invest time, effort, intuition, and common sense into your next car-buying decision and it will take you a long way to getting the vehicle that you both need and want.