THE THREE WORST CAR-BUYING MISTAKES

There are some common types of “big mistakes” when it comes to buying a car.

The first isn’t knowing what you’re buying, which can be costly. Another category includes the things you should never pay for at a dealership.

Here’s your crash course on what to keep in mind so you don’t end up paying more than you should.

All new cars at dealerships generally have to pass an inspection before they leave the lot. If some part of your car breaks a week after you bought it, the dealership should take care of the problem.

“Cars are built unimaginably better than they used to be in terms of at least short-term reliability. You should have a lot of peace of mind about that when buying new,” said Joseph Yoon, a consumer insights analyst at Edmunds, the online car shopping guide.

If you’re buying a used car, Yoon suggested finding a local mechanic to conduct a prepurchase inspection before you complete the deal. Call around for a local quote; the inspection should run between $100 and $200. If a car dealership doesn’t let you bring in an outside inspector, that is likely a sign that you probably shouldn’t buy the car, added Yoon.

Not getting an inspection means you will have to deal with any problems yourself.

Buying a car can mean a lot of extra expenses—mud flaps, anyone?—but not all of them are necessary.

Car dealerships have been known to throw a bunch of extras onto a purchase once you’re signing papers. Among the things you might see on the purchase are underbody coating, “wear and tear” warranties on items such as tires and brake pads, and vehicle-tracking systems including LoJack.

You can decline any of these items if they aren’t yet installed, said Yoon, adding that nearly anything a dealer can add to your car, from tinted windows to special tires, can probably be had for cheaper elsewhere. The dealership has to present all the line items clearly to you so you can account for any discrepancy between the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and what is presented. 

“If they don’t budge from that number, walk out,” Yoon said.

Nathan MacAlpine, the founder of CarMate, a car broker, said most people who purchase extras including paint protection and additional roadside service often forget they have them.

And remember, said Yoon, don’t pay for a test drive, ever.

The one thing worth buying from the dealership, according to MacAlpine: brake replacement, which ensures your brakes are working properly.

Most people go through a set of brakes every three years, he said. “It is always cheaper in my experience to get the brakes up front; they do discount the brakes.”

Paying to be on a wait list for popular models, where dealerships take a fee to ensure you’re in line when cars arrive, is just one more of the many ways car buying has changed. The fee, which can run $500 or more, is usually a deposit on the vehicle, and you can get the money back if you don’t end up wanting or liking the car.

Whether you want to buy common add-ons such as roof racks and winter tires is a matter of personal preference. There is a premium for getting them at the dealership, but it might be worth it.

When buying a used car, don’t make a purchase without checking services such as Carfax, which provides vehicle-history reports. 

“It will tell you how many owners, where the car came from, and if it’s been in any accidents,” said MacAlpine. He remembers when he saw some used cars far below market price.

The catch? The vehicles had spent time in an area with heavy flooding. Without checking them on Carfax, buyers wouldn’t have known they were flooded, and might have mechanical problems down the line.

It happens. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, according to Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’s head of insights, you usually have few options if you change your mind postpurchase. “Once the sales contract is signed, the consumer owns it,” she said.

There are some cases in which a buyer could plead with the dealer to take the car back, Caldwell said, but you will likely only be considered if you’ve got a proven lemon, and not a change of heart. 

The best course of action is to do your research, think carefully and be sure a car is the right fit for you before signing on the dotted line. “Take the time to read your sales contract, perhaps have it emailed to you so you can review it in the comfort of your own home,” said Caldwell, who also suggested reviewing the final price to see all financial aspects of the deal.

For used cars, some retailers allow returns, such as CarMax, which offers 30 days to change your mind as long as you drive no more than 1,500 miles, said Caldwell. “For those buyers who are very uncertain whether the vehicle will work for them, looking at used retailers with a return policy might be a safer bet,” she said.

2023-09-22T16:06:23Z dg43tfdfdgfd