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Car buying online vs. at a dealership Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our aim is to assist you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive financial calculators and tools that provide objective and original content. This allows users to conduct research and compare information for free to help you make sound financial decisions. Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not restricted to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money The offers that appear on this site are from companies that pay us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on the site, such as the order in which they may be displayed within the listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage home equity, mortgage and other products for home loans. This compensation, however, does affect the content we publish or the reviews you see on this site. We do not cover the entire universe of businesses or financial offers that may be accessible to you.

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6 min read Published October 28, 2022

Writen by Rebecca Betterton Written by Auto Loans Reporter

Rebecca Betterton is the auto loans reporter for Bankrate. She has a specialization in helping readers to navigate the ways and pitfalls of borrowing money to purchase a car.

Edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor

Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since late 2021. They are dedicated to helping readers gain the confidence to take control of their finances with precise, well-studied information that break down complex topics into manageable bites.

The promise of the Bankrate promise

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At Bankrate we aim to help you make better financial choices. While we are committed to strict journalistic integrity ,

This article may include the mention of products made by our partners. Here’s an explanation for how we earn our money .

The Bankrate promise

Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a proven track history of helping people make smart financial choices.

We’ve kept this reputation for more than 40 years by demystifying the financial decision-making

process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. process and gives people confidence in the next step.

You can rest assured you can trust us to put your needs first. Our content is created with and edited ,

We make sure that everything we publish ensures that everything we publish is accurate, objective and trustworthy. The loans journalists and editors concentrate on the points consumers care about most — the various kinds of lending options, the best rates, the most reliable lenders, the best ways to pay off debt and much more. So you’re able to be confident about investing your money.

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Bankrate has a strict policy and rigorous policy, so you can rest assured that we put your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters produce honest and reliable information to aid you in making the best financial decisions. The key principles We appreciate your trust. Our aim is to provide readers with reliable and honest information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure this happens. Our editors and reporters rigorously fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is correct. We keep a barrier between our advertisers and our editorial team. The editorial team of Editorial Independence Bankrate does not receive compensation directly from our advertisers. Editorial Independence Bankrate’s editorial staff writes in the name of YOU the reader. Our aim is to provide you the most accurate advice to help you make smart financial decisions for your personal finances. We adhere to strict guidelines in order in order to make sure that the content we publish isn’t affected by advertisements. Our editorial team is not paid directly from advertisers, and all of our content is fact-checked to ensure accuracy. If you’re reading an article or a review, you can be sure that you’re getting credible and dependable information.

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There are money-related questions. Bankrate can help. Our experts have been helping you manage your money for over four decades. We are constantly striving to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools required to make it through life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict policy, which means you can be confident that our information is trustworthy and reliable. Our award-winning editors and journalists create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content we create by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced through our sponsors. We’re open regarding how we’re able to bring quality information, competitive rates and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We receive compensation for placement of sponsored products andservices or when you click on certain links posted on our site. So, this compensation can affect the way, location and in what order items appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law. This is the case for our credit, mortgage and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether or not a product is available within your area or at your own personal credit score can also impact how and where products appear on this website. We strive to provide the most diverse selection of products, Bankrate does not include details about every credit or financial product or service.

Should I buy my new car online or from an auto dealer?

It depends on the type of experience you want. If you enjoy personal communication dealerships are the preferred option. However, if you’d prefer to handle the purchase from the comfort of home go online.

In the past, buying a car was about going to the local dealership and choosing your next set of wheels from the selection at the time. However, now you can buy cars at the convenience of their own homes — and in some instances, even have them delivered. Both purchasing options have benefits and drawbacks. Online buying comes with convenience and ease of negotiation. Think about which one is the best fit for your requirements prior to beginning your search. Online car buying is different from. dealerships Online

Traditional dealership

Benefits

* More vehicle options * Easy to compare cars Fast and responsive customer service

* More flexible prices * Manufacturer incentives * Expert advice

Negatives

* No test drive * No negotiation * Potential extra fees

* Larger time commitment * Harder to walk away * There are fewer vehicle options

Good for…

The driver who prefers the convenience of shopping from home and wants to avoid any pressure from sales associates.

A driver who excels in negotiations , and would prefer the intimacy that comes with working in a dealership.

What to watch out for

If you buy a car sight-unseen, it can be an additional risk, so do some studies on models to make sure you’re purchasing a reliable vehicle.

and marked-up financing can undo any hard-fought negotiation. The pressure of additional demands can force you into a car that doesn’t meet your needs.

Buying a car online In the period of the pandemic, many local dealers started to offer alternatives. This gave consumers a chance to see the cars available within the region before heading out on the road. While it’s a great option to shop online, it does still require a visit to the dealership. However, other, more seamless shopping routes have become popular since local retailers have moved online because of the necessity. Online retailers like CarMax, Shift and -to name some allow shoppers to shop, and even arrange pickup or delivery from the comfort of their home. Benefits of purchasing a car online The main advantages of purchasing your next car online comes in the form of ease of buying and direct online support. There are more options for vehicles at local dealerships. can only offer what’s available locally, and with remaining supply chain problems, the selection is even more limited. Buying from an online seller gives you a greater selection of options for cars to select from. You can also filter your search to specific models, makes and prices — all without the pressure of a salesperson on your shoulder. Easy to compare vehicles many more options of vehicles and a greater variety of options, comparison is the way to . No matter how many notes you make it’s difficult to really compare two vehicles on a dealer’s lot one-to-one. On the internet, you can evaluate the features and accompanying prices of the various vehicles you have your eye on. Attentive customer service While shopping from home removes any face-to-face support, online shopping still allows for great customer service — depending on the business you deal with. A lot of online retailers, such as Carvana, for example have a chat option where drivers can ask questions specific to the process. The disadvantages of buying cars online Although buying a car online comes with the benefits and convenience of shopping at your home, there are significant negatives to take into consideration. You can’t test drive the car when you shop online you won’t have the opportunity to inspect the vehicle in person until the moment you sign on the dotted line. And without any chance to take a test drive, you might purchase a car that isn’t perfect. When you’re online shopping for a car be sure to look for dealers that offer a return such as a seven-day return time — so you won’t be stuck with a car you don’t want. No negotiations Most online vehicle platforms offer no-haggle price quotes. If you’re tired of bargaining, this could be an advantage. But it also means that you won’t be afforded any flexibility on price. When shopping at a traditional dealer it is likely you can cut the price by bargaining, but when shopping online, the advertised price will be the amount you will pay. Additional fees that could be charged are unavoidable in the context of purchasing a car, online shopping can result in a few additional costs. If you choose to have your vehicle delivered, for example, you will have to pay an additional cost that can be as high as 1,000 or more, on marketplaces like Vroom and Vroom, in addition to other handling charges which are usually avoided when working with dealers. If you are buying a vehicle at a dealership Heading to the local dealer is the best choice when it comes time to purchase a used or new vehicle. Dealerships cater to specific vehicle price, brands, and models. But these establishments can carry a negative reputation which is why it is important to think about this before you go. Buying a car today also requires some due to recent high prices for new cars, caused by supply chain issues and . Which, unfortunately, aren’t expected to reach normal levels until 2023’s spring. In the meantime, prepare to spend some more money if you are buying a brand new car straight from an auto dealer. Benefits of buying a vehicle through a dealership traditional route provides drivers with an opportunity to get the best deal and the guidance of an experienced salesperson. Flexible prices. If the price prices differ from those you see advertised on the vehicle window, it is likely that with negotiation skills you will be able to reduce the price of the car. It isn’t an advantage for those who shop at the home. Manufacturer incentives Dealerships often offer buyers promotional finance options or additional rebates provided by manufacturers to sweeten the purchase from them. Although not all options are the same, most can be used to up the amount of your down payment or even provide you . Professional advice Nothing is as valuable as the personal guidance that a sales associate familiar with the industry can provide. This is especially true if you are exploring new vehicle options like . There are so many bells and bells vehicles now come with, it may be beneficial to have someone to walk through the procedure. Advantages of buying a car in a dealership The amount of time it takes to buy an automobile can be a large time commitment and cause headaches for buyers who are cautious Consider the disadvantages of buying from a dealership. Larger time commitment When buying online, you can close your laptop and have your new car arrive as soon as the next morning, but buying at dealerships isn’t always effortless. You’ll need to block the time to go to the dealership and walk around the lot to look at the options for your vehicle, and then talk to an agent. This whole process could be tiring, and can make you miss the car you’ve always wanted. Harder to walk away While salespeople are available to help you with your car buying journey and being with someone at you throughout the entire process isn’t easy if you are on the fence. It also makes the decision to walk away from a bargain particularly difficult. Unless you are a shopper with a strict attitude who is prepared to refuse, think about the ease of having the option to close the page as well as “walk away” whenever you shop online. A smaller selection of vehicles dealerships have fewer options than online retailers. Most dealerships offer a specific brand of vehicle. If, for instance you’ve got your eyes set on the brand of Nissan but only have an Ford dealer close by purchasing online is the best option to investigate other possibilities. How can you get the best deal no matter where you shop. No matter where you decide to purchase your next car there are a few cardinal guidelines to remember when you’re trying to drive on the road with the best price that you can. Be sure to stick to your budget. Cost should be your top goal when buying a new car, but make use of the car loan to understand your expected monthly expenses. Along with that think about all the costs associated with ownership — maintenance and included. Apply in for loan prequalification. Find lenders who provide prequalification, which is a great option to lock in your expected monthly payments and make sure you’re able to afford the car you want to purchase prior to signing. Check for the entire amount, not the monthly payment. The lower your monthly installment may be, but it’s not the most effective option, as you may incur more interest in the end. Know how your score on credit is affecting your financial situation. Your score is the most important factor in your ability to repay your loan. Understanding this will place you in a better position to judge whether you’re getting fair rates. Take a look. It is not just essential when it comes to cars, but it is also crucial to getting the best loan. It is advised to do this prior to signing a contract. Use the car buying apps. Benefit from the latest technology, both on and off the dealership lot. The apps will allow you to compare vehicles and also provide you with real-time price estimates. Bankrate tip

If you’re looking to get the most desirable of both, consider talking to the dealership in your area via email prior to the time. Mention what you’re interested in along with your timeline for purchase. You can also inquire about incentives available.

The bottom line should be a rewarding and stress-free experience. Therefore, the choice of online or dealership depends on what is best suited to your needs. If you’d rather the assistance of a trusted sales associate and prefer to go with the traditional route. However, if the thought dealerships creates more stress than excitement, think about the seamless online process.

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Authored by Auto Loans Reporter

Rebecca Betterton is the auto loans reporter for Bankrate. She specializes in assisting readers with the ins and outs of securely borrowing money to purchase an automobile.

Edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor

Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are committed to helping readers feel confident to manage their finances with precise, well-researched and reliable data that is broken down otherwise complicated topics into bite-sized pieces.

Auto loans editor

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