Do You Actually Need To Go Into Car Dealerships In 2023?

In 2020 as car dealerships worked at making the car buying process safer for customers, much of the operation was moved to less in-person contact. As with many other businesses, the emphasis on buying online and minimizing contact has stuck three years later. If you’re looking to buy a new or used car, do you actually need to go into the dealership? The answer is, maybe not.

Different Ways To Buy A Car

There are various ways of buying a car these days, and most of them involve doing the initial shopping online. Some popular spots for online buying include Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Auto Trader, car dealerships, Car Gurus, and Offer Up. There are a few others as well, such as eBay and Next Door, but these are not as convenient as the others.

If you’re looking at used vehicles, any of these options can help you find what you’re looking for. However, if you want to buy a new car, your only option is to look at car dealerships. These days though, you can shop online before you go in. In fact, some dealerships even have programs where they can sell you the car entirely online and bring it to you for a test drive at the closing of the deal. In other words, it’s completely possible to buy a car without ever setting foot in an actual car dealership.

How To Pay For Your New Car

The other question in buying a new or used car these days is how to pay for it. Obviously, if you buy a used car privately, you have the option of paying in cash. This can be convenient if you can meet the other party at a bank to make the transaction. However, even then it might be better to get a cashier’s check. Paying in cash is not as safe as other methods.

If you buy a car online from a car dealership, you can generally also complete financing paperwork online and get approved for a loan. This type of transaction can be mostly completed online, but you may have to sign paperwork in person at the closing of the deal.

Another possible way of paying for a car is with a credit card. This will obviously depend on your card issuer, your interest rate, and how much the car costs. There could be some advantages to this though if your card has a rewards program or an interest-free promotion period.

What’s the Best Way To Buy a Car In 2023?

The best way mainly depends on what you need. Buying via a car dealership website gives you access to both new and used vehicles and you can get financing if you need it. However, if you’re looking for an inexpensive used car and want to pay cash, you might consider one of the online listing sites available. Car dealerships are generally safer than buying privately as well.

One thing is for certain, buying a car online in 2023 is easier than ever thanks to adjustments made during the pandemic.