With the intensifying COVID-19 pandemic, going out to meet with dealers and sellers isn’t the safest choice. While social distancing works in curbing the coronavirus, the best way to remain safe is avoiding human contact as much as possible.
We are not telling you to fully isolate yourself from the rest of the world, but it doesn’t hurt to be as careful as possible. Amazon is a good example of how less human contact can help in preventing the transmission of the virus.
Online shopping is not new. We have been doing it for quite some time. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Forbes survey shows that more consumers are now planning to shop online.
A lot of things are being sold online. But is buying used cars possible online? The answer― yes.
For many years now, various auto trading websites offer services that allow sellers and buyers to interact for free.
Buying a Used Car Traditionally Vs Buying a Used Car Online
Contrary to popular belief, buying a used car online has more advantages than buying it traditionally. For starters, there will be no need for you to go back and forth between sellers. You can simply talk to them online. On top of that, you can free yourself from the stress on face-to-face negotiation.
Thanks to technology, the online car-buying process can be easily completed. In most cases, however, a final trip to the seller or dealer is needed for a test drive and paperwork. In some cases, this is not needed since more dealers and sellers are now willing to bring the used car to your home, and electronic signatures are now starting to take the place of traditional signatures.
How to Buy a Used Car Online: The Steps
- List down your needs.
It is necessary for you to list down what you need from a secondhand car. What are you going to use it for? How many people need to fit in the car? What specific features do you need?
- Set a budget.
After listing down your needs, set a budget. Make sure to divide your budget into two parts― one for the initial purchase of the car and the other for repairs & replacements.
- Compare the prices.
With a budget in mind, compare the prices of the used cars online. Most websites have a price sorting feature, so doing this won’t be hard.
- Get a vehicle history report.
Go online and obtain a vehicle history report. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about the used car such as accident & damage history, outstanding balance, and theft records.
- Schedule a test drive.
After confirming the authenticity of the used car, schedule a test drive. It’s either you can ask the seller to bring the car to you, or you go to the seller. After being truly satisfied, you can arrange the paperwork.
Buying a used car online is now possible, thanks to technology. However, you must be very vigilant when doing so. Happy car hunting!