Are Used Car Dealers Trustworthy?

How much can you trust used car dealers? Over the years, they’ve certainly developed a less than favourable reputation. However, while there are indeed many less than genuine dealers out there, the majority are reliable and they do follow strict guidelines.

Below, you’ll discover what to look out for in a used car dealer and how they protect you during the car buying process.

Improvements made within the industry

Rewind to a few years ago, and you’ll see trust in the used car dealership industry was pretty low. However, thanks to improvements made and stricter guidelines being followed, the industry has clawed back some of its reputation.

While all car dealers will always try to sell a car for as much profit as possible, there is much fewer dodgy tactics used these days in an attempt to trick customers. Part of this is down to technology and how easy it now is to research market prices. Buyers are no longer uninformed about how much a car is worth, so dealers are forced to be much more truthful.

There’s also been a crackdown on used car scams. Well-respected dealers now carry out car history checks prior to purchasing a vehicle. These checks can be carried out easily through companies like cap hpi. The results of the check show the dealer whether the car has been reported as stolen and its full-service history.

This in turn protects the buyer, as they know they aren’t going to end up with a stolen death trap.  

How to choose a reliable used car dealership

So, if you do decide to give a used car dealership a chance, what should you look out for? Well, firstly you’ll want to check the dealer has carried out appropriate checks of the vehicle. Ask them whether a check was carried out and whether there’s proof of it being done.

Online reviews are also great to look at. There’s actually dedicated sites which show whether or not a used car dealer can be trusted. Technology is a fantastic thing and can help no end when determining the reputation of a company. Also, look out for dealers which come across as too pushy and ones which are reluctant to talk about the cars history.

Overall, most used car dealers can be trusted and they do carry out numerous checks to ensure the cars they sell are not only genuine, but safe.

Will Hopstetter
Will is an automotive market enthusiast living in the United Kingdom. He holds a diverse background in automotive and enjoys utilizing that to produce insights into the inner workings of the industry.