A new car is a significant investment, and depending on the terms a dealership has set in place, you could end up paying a lot more for the vehicle than what the car’s manufacturer quotes as the MSRP (manufacturer-recommended retail price). Therefore, asking questions about the quoted price and what it includes is in your best interests. It would help if you also asked several other questions at the dealership to ensure you get the best deal possible. This article explores fifteen of them.
What is this car’s total ‘out-the-door’ price?
Also called the sticker price, the MSRP is the starting point for vehicle pricing at the dealership. It includes the cost of the car and the factory-installed features and add-ons. However, don’t enter a car dealership expecting to pay the sticker price.
On top of the MSRP, car dealerships usually add several additional costs like destination or transportation fees, dealer fees, title and registration fees, taxes, license plate fees, state inspections, and emissions fees, optional dealer add-ons, dealer markups, gap insurance, extended warranty plans, and service plans. Therefore, be sure to determine the car’s total ‘out-the-door’ price.
What additional costs are included in the total price? Could you give me a breakdown?
Some of these additional costs are negotiable, while some are not. The non-negotiable additional costs include destination/transportation fees, taxes (they vary depending on the state), registration and title fees, license fees, and state inspection and emissions fees. You must pay separately if they aren’t included in the total price.
Getting a breakdown of the additional costs is also essential because it will help you know how best to bargain or negotiate for a better price.
Are there any current discounts or promotions available?
Car dealerships often offer discounts and promotions to attract customers. These may run over set periods and could substantially reduce the overall cost of the car you wish to purchase. Therefore, be sure to ask about them.
Does the vehicle come with a warranty?
A new car should come with a manufacturer’s warranty, also known as a factory warranty. These warranty plans cover the costs of repairing or maintaining essential parts of your car over specified periods, so they can save you a lot of money. Check the website of that car’s manufacturer to get the details of the warranties it offers with new vehicles.
Most automakers offer a limited bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers critical vehicle systems and a limited powertrain warranty. The warranty duration varies depending on the manufacturer. For example, Kia, Genesis, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi all offer 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranties. Ensure that the car dealership’s warranty matches what the manufacturer provides.
Are there other models or trims I can choose from?
Higher trim levels tend to have more features than the rest of the vehicles in a car’s model lineup, so they typically come with higher price tags that result in more profit margins for the car dealership. Therefore, most car dealerships will likely try to push or highlight top-of-the-range models.
To ensure you get the best deal, ask to see all the trims available and inquire about their features. You may find that the more affordable base model of the vehicle you wish to buy will do just fine, going by what you want the car to accomplish. A more recent or newer model or trim may also be available with more updated features.
What are the car’s safety features, and what is its safety rating?
Your family’s safety on the road is paramount, so it is essential to ask about the car’s safety features. If it is a car that hasn’t had a model update or redesign in several years, it may be missing some of the latest driver-assistance technologies like forward collision detection, automatic emergency braking, or lane departure alert systems.
It is also essential to know the safety ratings that the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have given the car. These organizations are unbiased and independent, awarding those ratings after rigorous rounds of comprehensive crash testing. These ratings will provide you with a clear understanding of how safe the car is.
What financing options are available for this car, and what interest rates do you offer?
Car dealerships usually offer a couple of vehicle financing options for their vehicles.
The first type is manufacturer financing, which works in conjunction with the financing arms of the brand associated with the car dealership; e.g., Toyota’s car financing arm is Toyota Financing Services. This type of financing is usually specific to particular, high-priority models. For qualified buyers, it may offer 0% APR car loans.
The second type of car financing that car dealerships offer is bank or credit union financing, which you can source directly or request the car dealership to facilitate. Car dealerships may also offer in-house financing (Buy Here, Pay Here financing) and balloon financing. The interest rates are different with each of these financing options.
If you have good credit, you can qualify for manufacturer financing or bank/credit union financing, usually with low interest rates. In-house financing helps people with bad credit get car financing, but it comes with higher interest rates.
How fuel-efficient is the car (MPG or Range)?
With fuel prices being as high as they are today, aspiring car buyers are comparing fuel economy figures more than ever. Determining a car’s real-world fuel economy will help you know how much it will cost to fuel or recharge your vehicle in a week or month, given the distance you intend to cover daily.
What are the car’s standard and optional features?
It is good to know what you are getting for your money. This question will help you determine whether the car’s standard features are just what you need or if you must pay extra for the optional features you consider a must-have.
Can you explain the car’s maintenance schedule?
Every vehicle comes with a manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule that, if followed religiously, guarantees its longevity. The standard mileage service intervals include 3000-5000 miles, 6000 miles, 10000 miles, 15000 miles, 20000 miles, 30000 miles, etc. At each of them, the manufacturer dictates what needs to be serviced or replaced. Therefore, it is prudent to understand the maintenance schedule of the car you wish to purchase.
Does the dealership offer service plans, and how much do they cost?
These come in handy after the car’s warranty period expires. After spending a fortune buying a car at an authorized car dealership, you probably wouldn’t want to risk it getting mishandled or misdiagnosed at a local auto shop. Licensed car dealerships with service centers usually have factory-trained and certified auto technicians. Their services may be pricy, but you are bound to get the best care for your car at the dealership. Therefore, be sure to ask about the dealership’s auto service plans.
Can I trade in my current car?
If you already have a car and want to replace it with the one you wish to purchase, ask the dealership if you can trade in your current car. Trading in your vehicle can substantially reduce the upfront cost of the car you wish to purchase. The dealership will make you an offer for your vehicle, and if you accept, that offer amount will be deducted from the total cost of the vehicle you wish to purchase.
Can I take the car for a test drive?
It is standard procedure for car dealerships to allow test drives, so do not hesitate to request a test drive in the car you wish to purchase. A typical test drive at a car dealership should be about 30 minutes long. In that time, you will have determined whether the car matches your comfort and performance expectations. If the dealership gives you a hard time about taking the car for a test drive, that’s a red flag.
If I purchase the car, is it currently available, or will I have to wait for it to be delivered later?
Sometimes, the car you wish to purchase is unavailable at the dealership, so they may need to order it. This process could take days, weeks, or even months, depending on the brand. Therefore, it is vital to ask about the car’s availability to avoid any potential disappointment.
Know Your Future Car
These are just some of the questions you should ask the car dealers. The questions should be specific to the type of car you wish to purchase. For example, if you are buying an EV, you should add questions about the car’s range at full charge, how long it takes to recharge, how much it costs to maintain or recharge, etc. It is often said that ‘knowledge is power.’ The more you understand the car purchasing process and the car itself, the better.
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Mark Muhoro is a car enthusiast and writer who loves everything about automobiles. With over 11 years of experience in the automotive industry, Mark has become an expert in how cars work and what makes them special. He writes clear and interesting articles about cars for magazines and websites, making valuable contributions to renowned platforms like Vroom Magazine, Internet Brands, and Contentmotive.
