The Safe Driver

4 things to look for in used car dealerships Canandaigua NY

**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.

It’s good to invest in a used car because you can get a quality car that is far from the price of a new car. Instead of spending your hard-earned money for a new car’s full price, you can buy a pre-loved or second-hand car and still enjoy short and long trips with family and friends.

A car dealership can be your best platform to find your dream car. Car dealerships, such as Vision Kia in Canandaigua, can help you find quality cars at the price you can afford. Choose the right car that meets your driving habits, lifestyle, preference, and budget. It’s worth researching for different models, financing options, safety tests, mileage, repair and maintenance records, and warranties when buying a used car.

Here are the things you need to look for in used car dealerships:

1. Reputation

Aside from checking whether a car dealer is legitimate or not, you also need to find out the standard operating procedure of a used car dealership when it comes to reconditioning or repairing used cars being offered. It will include maintenance or services performed, which are clearly stated in the history and readily presented to you upon negotiation.

Here are some ways to check the reputation of a used car dealership:

• Check the information of the used car dealership through online resources, such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, the National Automobile Dealers Association or NADA, and Consumer Reports.
• Obtain the maintenance record of the car from the dealer.
• Read what people are saying about the car dealership on review sites and social media platforms.

2. Recalled Vehicle

Ask the dealer whether the car you are considering has a recall. Also, you can check it yourself by entering the vehicle identification number or VIN at safercar.gov. You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA.

Here’s how to deal with a recall:

• If there’s a recall, you can ask the dealer to fix it immediately. Ask for more information that shows the recall was fixed to avoid ending up with a lemon car.
• Remember that the federal law is not requiring car dealers to fix the recalls on used cars. That’s why you need to get it fixed by yourself.
• Don’t wait further because safety recalls can pose high safety risks. If these are not fixed right away, they might lead to road accidents.

3. Implied Warranties

A used car dealership is held responsible if the cars they’re selling don’t meet the acceptable and reasonable quality standards. State laws call these obligations as implied warranties, which are unwritten and unspoken promises from a dealer to the buyer.

Here are the things you need to know about implied warranties:

• Many dealers use the words “with all faults” or “as is” in a written notice to eliminate these obligations or implied warranties.
• Implied warranties are automatically added when a dealer sells a used car with a service contract or written warranty.
• If the written warranty does not cover your used car problems, you may still be covered by the implied warranties.
• Used car dealerships cannot delete this protection.
• The limit on an implied warranty must also be specified on the written warranty.

4. Service Contract

A service contract refers to a promise to pay or perform certain services. It is also called an extended warranty not defined by federal law. You can always arrange a service contract any time with an extra cost. Used cars also have some extended warranty coverage which is included in the sales price.

Here are the things you need to consider before deciding if you need a service contract:

• Determine if the service contract duplicates the warranty coverage or if the protection starts after the warranty expires. By doing so, you’ll also determine if the car dealer is trusted and reliable.
• Determine if the service contract extends beyond the expected ownership or possession of the car.
• Find out if the service contract is transferable or if there’s a shorter contract available.
• Find out if the used car requires repairs and the expected cost because you can only determine the service contract value if you figure out the repair cost.
• Check if the service contract will cover all components and systems.
• Check if a deductible is required.
• Ask if the dealer will perform the routine maintenance and repairs.
• Determine for refund policy or cancellation option, including cancellation fees, for the service contract.

Conclusion

While you need to test drive and ask an independent or third-party professional mechanic to check the used car you’re willing to buy, it’s crucial to know the other aspects of the sale. The implied warranties, service contracts, dealer’s reputation, and recalls play a vital role in ensuring that you’ll get the best value for your money’s worth. Besides, buying a used car is also a major investment and ending up with a lemon car can be more of a problem than a solution to your transportation needs.