Why buy a pre-owned vehicle from a new-car dealership?

When looking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle, buyers have a lot of options. They can buy directly from the current owner, visit a dealership that specializes in pre-owned vehicles only, or purchase from a new-car dealership which also happens to sell used cars, trucks and SUVs. But which one is the best alternative?

Well, there is isn’t a clear answer to that question. What is certain, however, is that there are advantages and disadvantages to each option. When it comes to buying from a new-car dealership that also sells pre-owned vehicles, the main advantage is that often times, it’s easier to know where the used vehicle in question came from.

That’s because new-car dealerships are not in the business of selling pre-owned vehicles. That means that the cars they decide to keep on the lot are probably vehicles they know very well. Often times, these are trade-ins from existing customers, and the dealership has serviced the car through the years and know its maintenance history. They are therefore in a better position to vouch for its quality and reliability.

Other times, the pre-owned vehicle is a lease return. Again, the dealership probably knows the car and can provide you with a complete service history, something that goes a long way in giving you peace of mind.

New-car dealerships are also able to offer extended warranties in most cases, and they have plenty of financing offers that may not be available elsewhere. Finally, new-car dealerships are more stable, and they have a reputation to protect. They know that if there is a problem, disgruntled buyers will not only tarnish that reputation, but that may lead to a drop in new vehicle sales, and they don’t want that. The fact that they are not going anywhere and will still be in business in years to come should also help worried pre-owned vehicle buyers feel more at ease.

Thank you to Bruce GM Digby for their help with this article.