3 Tips For Navigating The Dealership Experience
Ready to head off to your local dealership and come home with a shiny new car? While flying by the seat of your pants can work with plenty of purchases, cars represent a significant enough investment that it's worth doing a little planning and research. Before you step foot on the lot, you'll want to spend some time preparing for your visit and deciding on your goals.
Whether you're a first-time car buyer or an old hand, these three tips and tricks will help you make your dealership experience enjoyable and productive.
1. Know What to Bring
Easily one of the most frustrating mistakes you can make as a car buyer is arriving without the documentation you need. While you don't need to bring anything if you aren't ready to buy today, you will need some paperwork if you're doing more than just window shopping. The exact items you'll need will depend on your goals.
In general, you'll need proof of residence, income, and identity if you plan to apply for financing. You may also want to bring bank statements if you have a unique income situation, such as self-employment. For trade-ins, expect to need your current vehicle registration and title, if available. Failure to arrive with any paperwork can slow the process down substantially.
2. Go With Goals in Mind
Another common mistake is approaching the lot without clear goals and expectations. Are you purchasing a vehicle today? Do you have a particular car in mind, or do you know your general needs? In most cases, it's an excellent idea to do a little research beforehand so you can establish a reasonable budget and know which models might fit your requirements.
These expectations are critical so that your salesperson can help you find a car that's both affordable and suitable for your needs. Aimlessly approaching the lot can lead to a frustrating situation for both you and the sales team and can easily lead you into a situation where you leave unsatisfied or unhappy. By keeping clear goals in mind, you're more likely to have a relatively smooth and quick visit.
3. Work With the Sales and Finance Teams
The dealership staff has one goal: to sell you the car you want at a price you can afford. The sales and finance teams at dealerships want to work with you, and they aren't interested in an adversarial relationship. Instead, treat the dealership staff as partners in your quest to find the perfect car. Make sure you're open and honest about your needs, wants, and budgetary limitations.
Establishing a good relationship with the staff at the dealership is one of the best things you can do to truly enjoy your car shopping experience. Instead of worrying about the process of buying a car, you can focus on finding the perfect vehicle for you and your family.
Contact a dealership, like a Nissan dealership, to learn more.