The shift towards e-commerce was already well underway, courtesy of online giants like Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. Yet, the pandemic has sped up the process by as much as five years.
These days, people can shop for and buy almost anything online. That’s true for food, streaming content, and even cars. Yes, you can browse and buy cars online.
Of course, that also opens the door to a wide variety of potential mistakes. If you’re thinking of buying your next vehicle over the internet, keep reading. We’ll cover the top five online car shopping mistakes and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Not Researching
All too often, people go car shopping in person or online without doing any meaningful research about the types of cars or even comparing car prices. Before you start looking at a car dealership website, you should have a clear idea about the make and model of the car you want.
At a bare minimum, you should know what types of cars you’re interested in and what they typically cost.
2. Focusing on New
Once upon a time, there was a stark contrast between used and new cars. If you wanted a good car, you bought new. If you wanted a cheap car, you bought used.
Now, a used car from a few years ago will often prove just as reliable as a new car. Plus, most modern cars will get you to the 200,000-mile mark on average. At least consider used cars as you make your decision.
3. Not Considering Cost of Ownership
Something a lot of people overlook when buying a car is the cost of ownership. For example, saving a thousand on the sticker price is great. Of course, that means nothing if your loan comes with an outrageous interest rate.
Always make sure you get a complete picture of what the car will cost long term.
4. Maintenance
Not every mechanic can work on every single kind of car. Before you get something exotic, you should find out if there is a mechanic or dealership that works on that kind of car. If you’re confident in your mechanical skills, make sure you can get parts with ease.
You can look for sites that specialize in things like online Mini Cooper parts.
5. Not Test Driving
Buying a car online can make a test drive impractical if the vehicle comes from across the country. If you buy a car that way, make sure it comes with a test drive window that lets you return the car.
Online Car Shopping Mistakes and You
Browsing and even buying cars online can let you access a wider variety of cars and even get better deals. Just make sure you don’t fall into any of the common online car shopping mistakes.
Do your research and decide on a make and model, or at least a type of car. Consider used vehicles. Understand the cost of ownership and maintenance challenges.
Make sure you can test drive and return the car.
Looking for more car tips or information? Check out the posts in our Car News section.