What You Need to Know About Buying a Car Online

With a global pandemic, people have turned even more than before to online buying. Amazon, Walmart, and other big retailers have capitalized on this trend. It’s not surprising that car dealers have figured out how to make online work to avoid losing out on sales. As a buyer, this is a new feature you can take advantage of, but you may want to know more before taking the plunge. Read on to learn all about buying a car online in 2021.

What it means to buy a car online

Buying a vehicle online doesn’t look the same at every dealership. Online car purchases look quite different from shopping on Craigslist and then visiting a private party to see the car in person.

In the past, you could go online and check out the inventory – even send a message about a model you were interested in. Unfortunately, that was about as far as the internet would take you. Now, you can submit finance applications online and even sign the loan documents after approval from the comfort of home.

What might be most shocking is that you can take a test drive and make the final purchase without ever visiting the dealership. While not all dealerships offer this convenience, more are seeing the benefit for buyers. They will bring the car you’re interested to you and allow you to take a test drive from your home. If you choose to buy the vehicle, the contract is created, and you can sign when they bring the car to you.

Online car sales websites

In addition to the branded dealerships that sell vehicles, many used-vehicle companies have developed a website for strictly online purchases. These sites, such as Carvana or Vroom, offer 100 percent touchless purchase and delivery. Many provide a few days to test out the vehicle and exchange it during that period for another model. 

These dealerships offer financing just like with a traditional dealer. You can trade your current vehicle or sell it outright just like with your standard Ford, Toyota, Nissan, or BMW dealerships. Perhaps get pre-qualified and even use the auto loan calculator to figure out what you can afford. You have the option of getting the vehicle delivered or going to what is known as a car vending machine to pick up your vehicle. Everything is done without contact for safety.

Customer service for online sales

With these online car sales companies, contactless doesn’t mean alone. The dealership keeps in contact through phone calls at different points along the way. For instance, once you finish your test drive, you can speak to the representative and let them know if you want to buy the vehicle. These sites provide phone numbers for a call or online chats as well to ensure you get your questions answered.

Other sites, like True Car, act as a broker or go-between you and the dealership. Instead of working solely with your local dealer, you can go online to find the best deal at various dealerships. You choose the kind of vehicle, features you want, and loan terms you need. Subsequently, the site will provide you with an offer that matches from a traditional dealer.

As more car buyers spend time online with research, they will find these sites valuable for their car-buying experience. With the available options, it’s possible to buy a vehicle completely online. Just make sure you know what you want and what you’re getting before providing any personal information. Along with legitimate companies, you’ll find plenty of scammers who want to take advantage of buyers looking for convenience in online car buying.