What To Know Before Buying at a Buy Here Pay Here Dealership

This year, close to 18 million Americans will flock to dealerships, Craigslist, LetGo, and other car sales platforms to purchase a new car. This number is based on previous trends in car sales, in which 2017 saw a slight increase in sales from the year before. Regardless of the patterns, one thing is for sure: Americans love their cars and to support the number of car sales that happen each year, more than just new car sales must occur. When it comes to sales of used cars and trucks, few dealerships are more reliable than those with buy here pay here deals.

Buy here pay here dealerships come in many forms -- from the mom and pop dealership you pass on the side of the road to the lesser known deals available from brand name dealerships. At first glance, it would seem as though buying a used car through a buy here, pay here dealership would always be the best choice for someone in the market for a used car. However, it is important to note that there are specific terms which buy here pay here dealerships have on their vehicles that differ from in-person sales and trades as well as varying from mainstream dealerships. Here is what all potential buy here pay here customers should know before buying at this type of dealership.

Buy Here Pay Here Dealerships Offer In-House Financing

Most car purchases start at the bank, despite popular depiction. This is because many new car dealerships (or independent sellers) want to be paid for the car in full. Especially for new cars, most car buyers do not have this capacity. At buy here pay here dealerships, buyers can put some money down on a vehicle and purchase that car all in one place. Buy here pay here dealerships work with the needs and budgets of their clients and all purchases go solely through their dealership. Instead of the bank acting as a middleman, you set up a deal with the dealership itself. Many auto buyers find this a lot easier than having to go through the bank to get a loan.

Buy Here Pay Here Dealerships Also Sometimes Have Different Fees Applied to Their Vehicle Purchases

Sometimes, buy here pay here establishments get a bad rap. This is because buyers sometimes forget to ask about different fees. Buy here pay here dealerships are often only able to offer their deals because of costs like administration and handling, inspection fees, and delivery fees (when applicable). However, dealerships that have fees will often go over these fees with you in the spirit of fairness. Additionally, buyers can ask any questions they have about costs before the purchase of a vehicle to avoid any hidden price hikes.

Don’t Have Much Cash To Work With? Sometimes You Can Get Trade in Credits.

Like any finance offer, there is often an amount that a customer must put down to get the advertised monthly payment rate. Down payments of $500-$2000 are standard for many buy here pay here establishments, but for those who have had a hard time purchasing a vehicle in the past, even a small down payment like $500 might seem like a lot. In instances like these, it is worth the customer’s time to ask about trade-in credit, even if it is not something that a dealership might advertise. Most buy here pay here dealerships will offer fair prices for trade-in vehicles, as these vehicles are how they keep their lot diverse. If you were planning on selling an old car to put toward a new-to-you car, this is usually a fair option, anyway.

You Might Not Find The Exact Car You Are Looking For At These Types of Dealerships

Buy here pay here dealerships usually work with used cars, which mean that they depend upon the trade-ins and sales of other customers’ cars. A reputable, smart, and car-savvy dealer will go out of their way to ensure that they have at least a little variety in their inventory. By having different makes, models, years, and types of cars, buy here pay here dealerships expand their customer base, which makes it easier to sell their inventory and make a profit. However, it is not profitable to buy here pay here dealerships to go out and find every make and model of car out there. This takes time and effort, and there is no guarantee that their customers will buy every vehicle on the lot.

What possible buy here pay here customers should have at the back of their mind when searching for a new vehicle is a style of car and a price range. This might even include a year range, transmission type, or desired color. Rather than going to your local dealer and saying you want a green Subaru Outback, shoppers at a buy here pay here establishment would go into the dealership and say something like “I want a hatchback that handles well on rough terrain, preferably green.” A dealer might not have a green Subaru, but the chances that a buy here pay here dealer has a similar hatchback with some or all of those attributes is reasonably high.

Your Payoff Time Will Likely Be Shorter Than at a Traditional Dealership

Most buy here pay here establishments are not huge, multi-million dollar corporations that allow payback leeway, which means that payment terms might be shorter than average. Typical payment terms are over a year or fifteen months. The upside to this is that most buy here pay here customers pay less in interest by working with short payment terms, which ultimately can save a buyer thousands of dollars and get them closer to full ownership of a vehicle.

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and live in Independence, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Gladstone, or North Kansas City, Missouri, or live in Kansas City, Kansas, stop by one of our many buy here pay here lots. With a wide selection, competitive financing options, and an honest and open fee policy, we are committed to helping our customers get the cars they need. For more information, give us a call at (816) 241-7880 or (816) 231-9300.