Advice
How to choose a good car retailer
When you’re researching your next car, don’t just think about what to buy, think about where to buy it as well.
Words by: Andy Pringle
Published on 20 October 2016 | 0 min read
Before the average person buys a car, they spend 11 hours doing online research to find just the right model. Do they think about where to buy it from, though? Probably not. But they should…
In the UK, there are three main types of car dealer – franchised, independent and supermarkets – and, as you can see from our film above, you can have a good experience at any one. You just have to find the one where you feel most comfortable and happy. Before you start, remember you’re not looking for the impossible. What you want are things all legitimate retailers can show. Our film will give you more details, but we recommend three things to help you find the right retailer: find independent reviews and ratings; look through the company’s website; and, see if they are members of any recognised industry organisations. Thankfully, the days of dodgy dealers are swiftly becoming a thing of the past, as customers start to buy cars from ‘retailers’, who offer a good-quality car with great customer service. What’s more, the internet has made the whole market much more transparent. Both you and the retailer can check similar cars for sale all over the country, so you can be sure the one you’re interested in is priced fairly. In other words, you can find the car you want, turn up at the retailer, and feel much more confident you’re buying the right car at the right price. In many cases, you can also turn up with an independent valuation of your part-exchange, so you know the whole deal is fair. And the best thing? All of this no more than a click or tap away.
In the UK, there are three main types of car dealer – franchised, independent and supermarkets – and, as you can see from our film above, you can have a good experience at any one. You just have to find the one where you feel most comfortable and happy. Before you start, remember you’re not looking for the impossible. What you want are things all legitimate retailers can show. Our film will give you more details, but we recommend three things to help you find the right retailer: find independent reviews and ratings; look through the company’s website; and, see if they are members of any recognised industry organisations. Thankfully, the days of dodgy dealers are swiftly becoming a thing of the past, as customers start to buy cars from ‘retailers’, who offer a good-quality car with great customer service. What’s more, the internet has made the whole market much more transparent. Both you and the retailer can check similar cars for sale all over the country, so you can be sure the one you’re interested in is priced fairly. In other words, you can find the car you want, turn up at the retailer, and feel much more confident you’re buying the right car at the right price. In many cases, you can also turn up with an independent valuation of your part-exchange, so you know the whole deal is fair. And the best thing? All of this no more than a click or tap away.