Is A Car Buying Service for You?

Buying a car is often an excruciatingly long and complex journey, and often, not a very fair one. Really, how often do you get the chance to buy a new car? No matter how much you research, you'll never be an expert on all the deals and the tricks there are when it comes to car shopping. And considering you are effectively dealing with a professional negotiator when you buy a car; how do you stand a chance?

The answer? Get someone else to do it for you. That is, hire a professional car buyer. It's a service that may help you save money overall by paying a pro to do the legwork, negotiating, and everything in between for you.

What They Do

Car buying services conduct a short interview when you call them to determine what kind of car you want and how much you are willing to spend on it. Depending on the rareness and availability of the vehicle of desire, you could be driving your new car in as little as a few days after you make the call. The great thing is, these guys and gals are professional negotiators too, and can often get close to the price that the dealers pay for the car. They secure the deal and hand the paper work over to you.

Chose Wisely

Make sure you know your car buyer. Research the company before you start making plans with them. Either ask friends that have used this service or look for reviews from old customers online. Be sure to get the paperwork in your hands before you go into the car dealership. Also, make sure you are dealing with a broker and not a buyer's agent. Some agents can have tighter ties to the dealer than you'd like and you'll end up with hidden fees when you show up at the dealership. A good broker will help you all the way through the deal and call up the dealer if things start to not work out.

For example: a good deal goes beyond the base price for the car. The loan type is a whole other arena of financing you have to worry about. A good broker helps you through that. Before you chose your broker, check to see if you can get someone else to foot the bill. Some insurance companies and car services pay for members to use these services and may also have some recommendations for who to go to.

Who Should Use a Broker

People who want brand new models of cars that may require getting your name on a waiting list shouldn't use a car-buying broker. These cars, as well as some other high-end cars have a pretty set price. All the brokers can do in this case is attempt to keep other added-on fees from appearing. Depending on how much these fees add up to, you may not want to pay between $200 and $400 to keep them off.

Car-buying services aren't necessarily for everyone. Maybe you are a car expert, know exactly what you want, and know how to get it for the price that you want (maybe you're even an ex-car salesman).

If you are prepared and confident when you walk onto the lot, you can most likely get a good a deal as any broker. This takes time and a lot of research. If you have the time and can put in the effort, forgo the broker. If you don't have time and need a little help, just make sure you're getting the best broker for you.

Kathryn Foster is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon.