Most people can’t afford to purchase a car with the economic shutdown. However, some people still need to get from point A to point B. If you want to buy a vehicle, car dealers have loosened payment and loan terms, making it a great time to purchase. If you need to buy a new car right now, here’s how to implement social distancing while shopping for a vehicle.
Browse Inventory at Home
The first step is to browse the inventory from the comfort of your home. Research vehicles on sites like NHTSA. Look at reviews so you can narrow down the year, make, model, trim level and extras. Once you’ve decided which vehicle to purchase, search local dealer’s sites for their inventory.
Trade-in Your Car
There are many aspects of the purchase that do not require face-to-face interaction. However, trading in your vehicle does because the dealer needs to perform an evaluation and physical inspection before any offer is made. This is one area where social distancing will become more complicated.
Schedule Your Test Drive
You must test drive any new vehicle before you purchase it, so you know if that vehicle will work for you. Although, if you’re purchasing a car from Tesla, you don’t need a test drive. They are the only automakers that allow returns since you must buy the car online.
Inspection or Certified Pre-Owned
During this tough time, you may want to purchase a used vehicle. However, we highly recommend getting an independent mechanic to look over the car. If you wish to social distance, you might consider purchasing a CPO (certified pre-owned) vehicle instead, since these vehicles typically come with a multi-point inspection.
Finalize the Deal While Social Distancing
The last step is to sign the paperwork and get the vehicle delivered. Some dealers are now offering to handle these steps in your home. If the dealer does not do this, you can ask if they will overnight ship the paperwork to you.
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