Buy Here Pay Here Dealerships Vs. Traditional Dealerships

So, you’re in the market for a new car. Maybe you’re looking for a safe and reliable vehicle for your teenager as a present for having passed their driver’s test. Or, perhaps you want a daily driver that gets better gas mileage than the car you have now. There are many reasons why you might need a car. Those reasons all lead you to the next step in car buying, which is visiting a car dealership.

If you live anywhere near a city, however, you can attest to how hard car buying is just by looking at the eight or nine dealerships you’ll pass on a main highway. There are thousands of car dealerships all over the United States, and each one of them offers something different than the other one. How do you know which car dealership is right for you? The answer won’t be the same for everyone, and therefore part of the car buying process will always include consideration for the vehicle you intend to purchase.

Here are some questions you can keep on the back burner for the next time you get ready to buy a car.

They will help you understand whether you should visit a buy here pay here dealership or a traditional dealership.

1) Do you want a new car or a used car?

Not all car buyers are looking for a new car buying experience. Far more people purchase used cars than purchase new vehicles in the United States. Last year, less than half of car sales in the country were new cars.

If you’re looking to purchase a used car, a buy here pay here dealership is the best place to get started. These dealerships sell used cars only. The perks of this? There is a much wider variety of vehicles than you might find at a new car dealership, including cars of different brands. Additionally, vehicles sold at buy here pay here dealerships are much more reliable than those sold used online. This is because they must follow federal laws to remain in business, and to do so, many dealerships employ in-house mechanics to make sure their vehicles are up to snuff.

If you’re in the market for a quality used car, the best place to get started is at a buy here pay here dealership.

2) What is your credit like?

Credit is another important factor that pushes car buyers into buying a particular type of car. Having good credit usually means you’re able to purchase any vehicle you want, however, you also must keep in mind that you’ll still need to budget even if you plan on using credit to finance your car.

This aside, not everyone in the United States has good credit. It’s a lot more common that people will have less than excellent credit, which often makes it hard to obtain the financing they need to get a new car. Traditional dealerships will generally offer to finance their customers, but they tend not to lend to anyone with less than perfect credit. Buy here pay here dealerships, on the other hand, will give to anyone regardless of their credit history. Car financing with poor credit is easy at buy here pay here dealerships.

3) How quickly do you need your car?

Purchasing a car at a traditional dealership takes a bit of time. Typically, you’ll meet with a salesperson, and they’ll show you different vehicles. This process can often be tedious, as many salespeople at traditional dealerships work off commissions and will try to sell you a car based on their commission needs rather than your needs. From there, you will apply for financing with an outside party and will either be accepted or denied credit. The process can take weeks, sometimes delaying car ownership.

Purchasing a car at a buy here pay here dealership generally only takes a day. Most dealerships have their own in-house financing, which means you’ll know exactly how much they are willing to lend to you the same day you go in. If you need a car in a rush due to an accident or other extenuating circumstances, a buy here pay here dealership will get you a vehicle quickly and with relative ease.

4) Do you want to trade in your old car?

Luckily, if you want to trade in your old car, both traditional dealerships and buy here pay here dealerships typically offer this as an option.

However, if you are looking for a better trade-in deal on your old car, you’re better off bringing it to a buy here pay here dealership. Traditional dealerships do sell the cars they pick up as trade-ins. However, there is not as much incentive to sell an old, used vehicle at those establishments as there is to sell new cars.

Buy here pay here dealerships, on the other hand, depend upon trade-ins for the livelihood of their business. Trade-ins at buy here pay here dealerships also get you further at these establishments, as prices on used cars are naturally lower than on new cars.

5) Are you loyal to a specific brand?

Dealerships are brand loyalists. Even if they might sell used cars from other brands, they do the majority of their marketing for a singular brand and try and sell new vehicles of those brands. This makes their deals particularly appealing to buyers who prefer one brand over others. You can buy other-branded cars from traditional dealerships, but for those who are loyal to one particular brand or car, it is best to buy from a conventional dealership.

That being said, buying from a buy here pay here dealership is more appealing to those who like variety. Most buy here pay here dealerships have a range of years, makes, and models that allow adventurous buyers to consider their options more wisely.

If you live in the Kansas City area, including Gladstone, Kansas City, Parkville, or Liberty and are in the market for a new car, stop by Auto Bank of Kansas City. We have the largest selection of quality pre-owned vehicles in the area, and we’re confident we can help you find the right car.