A car is an essential asset for any business. It boosts mobility and productivity. It can even be a tool for increasing services and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Purchasing a car for commercial purposes is a decision you need to ponder carefully. It is not a cheap investment, after all. Therefore, you need to make sure that it will adequately serve its intended purpose and be totally worth the considerable amount of money you will be doling out for it.
Also, you must establish if you will be buying a brand new or a pre-owned vehicle. If you have a generous budget, car experts recommend opting for an all-new car because you can be confident that there are no functional issues with it. Also, buying brand-new often means securing a collection of perks with the purchase. You can get free car insurance for a year, free gas, car center services, and an assortment of car accessories.
However, if you are working with a more modest budget but are keen on getting great quality, it’s wiser to choose a pre-owned vehicle.
First of all, you get a bigger selection of cars to choose from. If you opt for brand-new, your options (with respect to your budget) may be limited to compact economy cars, which may not be what you want or need for business.
It’s important to point out as well that certified pre-owned cars are high-quality, and many of them have only been used for a short time. Therefore, in a comparison of pros and cons, pre-owned vehicles are the more practical choice.
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Things to Take Note of When Buying a Pre-Owned Vehicle
With anything you will be buying second-hand or pre-owned, meticulousness is an absolute must. Here are the things you need to consider carefully before you purchase a pre-owned vehicle:
1. Is the seller known for its integrity?
Bear in mind that a pre-owned vehicle has a history that you do not completely know of. This is why you must choose your seller wisely to ensure that you get a great vehicle. Car experts would advise you to work with a reputable used car dealership instead of private sellers.
The best used car dealerships have a detailed process in establishing the quality of a pre-owned vehicle. They have experts who will thoroughly inspect the body and machine to determine the real value of the car. On top of that, if the car needs a few repairs, you can be confident that the dealership will have specialists implementing the repairs and replacements. No shortcuts are taken in bringing the vehicle to the highest quality for reselling.
Plus, top-notch pre-owned car dealerships also provide a warranty for buyers. Since they are a business and not just individuals simply looking to sell a car, dealerships are all about providing service. As such, they work with the goal of ensuring customer satisfaction.
2. Is the car model associated with particular issues?
Another thing to consider when buying a pre-owned car for business is the vehicle model. Conduct a background check and see if the vehicle is known for having specific issues. Have people complained about how lightweight the car is? Is the air conditioning system not as strong as in other cars in its category?
Stay up to date with auto industry news. In the past couple of years, there have been numerous reports on prominent issues for particular car models. For instance, in 2015, there were a lot of complaints about the Ford Explorer, which were about exhaust fumes entering the cabin. Meanwhile, in 2017, Subaru dealt with issues involving its Legacy sedans’ defective steering columns.
3. Is the car economical?
Consider fuel-efficiency as well, mainly if the car will be used frequently for day-to-day operations such as deliveries. There are many good quality pre-owned cars on the market with an affordable price tag and yet are big gas-guzzlers. This can significantly affect your operational expenses. So, do not focus solely on the low selling price of the vehicle. Do the math for the actual usage of the car.
Auto experts also advise taking note of the cost of maintenance. European cars, especially, can be quite costly to maintain as they require specialists, and their replacement parts often come at a steep price. Thus, if you are all about balancing operational expenses, it’s imperative to factor in on this variable, too.
4. When is the best time to buy from a used car dealership?
There are ideal times for buying a car, even a pre-owned one. Therefore, if you are looking for an excellent deal, find out when it’s most advantageous for you to carry out a purchase transaction. In Dubai, many used car showrooms are known to schedule their best discount offers in time for winter, which is from November to April, just like most retail businesses do.
As for the time of the day, car experts recommend going early in the middle of the work week when most people are busy with their jobs and showroom employees have all the time to cater to the slow trickle of customers. When there aren’t too many customers around, sales agents are more helpful and can inform you about promos and other great deals for their offerings.
The decision to make an investment that can significantly impact the way your business operates demands much careful thought. So, make sure to consider all the variables discussed above if you will be buying a pre-owned vehicle to assist in your business operations.
AUTHOR BIO
Mahesh Rohra is the Managing Director of certified Pre-Owned Multi Brand Car Sales & Service. AWR Strategic Ventures, Part of the AW Rostamani Automotive Group, a trailblazer in the automotive fraternity with a legacy of over 50 years. AUTOTRUST is the strategic arm business vertical through which the group had diversified into certified Multibrand Car Sales and Aftersales Service Center Network, offering a one stop shop solution for all automotive requirements. AUTOTRUST offers solutions to buy & sell car, Agency standard Car Service and Maintenance, car rentals and much more.