Buying a vehicle can be stressful, especially if you’ve never done it before. Whether you’re buying a new or pre-owned vehicle, it is important to do your homework before you head to the dealership. They say knowledge is power and that is very true, the more you know about the vehicle you’re interested in the better off you’ll be. But when you’re looking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle it is a good idea to do a little extra homework to make sure the vehicle you are interested in is in good shape. Dealerships will buy used vehicles and fix them up to be like-new, but it is always a good idea to know what skeletons your vehicle has been through before you commit to it. That’s why this week we are helping you out by giving you some helpful questions you should ask before saying yes. Check them out below and if you’re in the market for a like-new ride, Destination Nissan has an impressive line-up of vehicles to choose from and even offers vehicles as new as 2019!

1. Is the car I want on the lot?

What’s the point of wasting time and energy negotiating and falling in love with a car to find out the model, or color you want isn’t even on the lot? And even if they can get it from another dealer it won’t be immediately, and who says they will honor the price you’ve agreed upon with another dealer. Talk about a heartbreaker! An easy way to avoid this problem is to do a little research. Go to the dealership with a couple of cars in mind, when you get there ask to see those cars, and have them check the inventory before you fall in love! And if they don’t have your dream car, keep your head up. There are lots of fish in the sea.  

2. What is the actual cost of the car?

Okay, this one is the obvious question but something important to know, there’s a vehicle’s MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) and then there is the amount you have to pay to drive that baby off the lot. Depending on the car, the MSRP can be higher or lower. So again, do some research and come informed! You should also expect to pay sales tax, a state licensing fee, and a documentation fee, which dealers charge for filling out the contract. These fees can vary, so here’s where you ask how much your dealer is asking for!

3. What features don’t work the way they’re supposed to?

It’s not a bad question when shopping for a used car, I mean come on this baby might have already taken a few trips around the block and it might not be as young as it once was. Most of the time if there is an issue it isn’t a deal breaker and is an easy fix, but it’s better to know everything, rather than know nothing.

4. What is the ownership history?

If you ask this question and the dealer doesn’t know much about the vehicle’s history this could be a red flag! Don’t be afraid to ask for the vehicle history report or service records. Remember this will be your car, you don’t want to find any surprises after you’ve already signed your name!

5. What is the mileage on my car?

This is an important question even when buying new cars. What if the car was the “test drive car” or maybe it was traded from another dealership. If you’re buying a new car and the odometer reads over 300 miles ask for a discount!

6. What are my terms of payment?

Deciding whether to lease or buy is only half your battle, you have to then figure out how much you’ll be paying each month. Don’t discuss how much you can pay monthly until you’ve settled on a price of the car. And before you sign a lease, be sure to understand all of the fees and conditions, including what is considered “wear and tear.”