If you’re asking ‘are car sales brokers legit‘, it’s worth noting that every industry has the good, the bad (and the ugly). The same applies to working with an auto broker – a great one will ensure you get the car of your dreams within your budget and schedule, saving you endless hassles.
Of course a lesser one may just cost you the money you could have better spent. And land you with a ‘meh’ set of wheels. But if you know what to look for you’ll be a happier owner of a new (or used) car at the end of the day.
Therefore it comes down to finding a good auto broker. A good place to start is by understanding how they work and from there you can look for the expert ones you can trust.
In this article
Why an auto broker?
Regardless of whether you’re buying a second hand car or new car, there’s a heck of a lot to get your head around. First there’s window shopping for different makes and models and cross-referencing their specs against costs, fuel usage and your budget.
Then there’s negotiating with a car dealer and doing the prerequisite checks before and after you agree to purchase.
There’s also a lot of paperwork involved, from sales contracts and tax invoices to purchase orders and ownership transfer forms.
Seriously, buying a car is an entire job. And there are people to do that job: enter the car broker.
Are car sales brokers worth it?
So now we know why you may need a care broker – they simplify the buying process. Next is deciding whether it’s worth it or not. Here are four reasons you might want to work with an auto broker:
1. The best deal
A big bonus of using a car broker is that they can save you money on your purchase. Car brokers generally have a regional or even national network of dealers they work with and they can command better prices than you or I as individuals. They benefit too, of course – either they work with a flat fee or a percent of the sale.
Car sales brokers aren’t only working for you, they have many customers. This means they can also potentially buy several cars from a dealership at any one particular time. As you can imagine, this means a far better price than the lone buyer coming to get their one and only car.
2. Test driving with a clear perspective
There’s also arranging your test drive. A car sales broker can either set up the test drive for you or even bring the car to you. Depending on how they work of course – and what you want to pay for. This means you can give the car and its capacity your full attention.
3. There’s a lot of nitty gritty
From sourcing the car you want and getting it financed to finding a great car insurance provider and even trading your old car in. Speaking of which – read what’s involved in car trade in. A car sales broker can do all of this and usually there’s a whole industry competing for their business. This is how come they get great deals.
4. Time is money
Auto brokers are also massive time-savers. This extends from actual time on the clock to the time saved on the mental/emotional hassle of buying a car. The brain power and time you need to set aside in your schedule to find the right car for your budget and make the purchase is nothing to sneer at.
Going it alone instead of with a car broker
That said, you may still want the option of handling your own purchase. The blood, sweat and tears of sealing the deal and making the purchase could be something you lust for. Then there are those who’d prefer not to, or simply can’t make that time.
If you’re in the latter group – then a car sales broker is totally worth it. But wait there’s more…
An auto broker is only as good as their network
A car sales broker is only as good as their reputation and their network. A great car broker will have knowledge at their fingertips. From understanding who has the best deals within a certain vehicle type and budget to knowing how to negotiate with a strong hand.
Because they know dealers and dealers know them, they’re already in the playing field and can strike bold, fast deals more easily. But you still want the one that gets a flush hand with all their customers. So here are a few tips to get you going in the right direction.
Google reviews
Type in car sales broker and Google will bring up the ones closest to you. Check out which ones get the best star ratings. If other buyers think car brokers are legit, that’s a great start. But don’t stop there. If a car broker has five stars but only 10 reviews, one with 100 reviews of four stars may actually be better.
If there are complaints (seldom will any company escape this), pay attention to what these are.
Put in a request
Once you’ve found a handful of car brokers that appeal to you – fill in their form or send them an email. Give them the make and model you want together with your budget and any other specifics. They’ll happily take it from there.
By starting the process you can get an idea of whether this particular car sales broker inspires your confidence. Do you like the way they communicate? Are they open and factual and do you feel they’re giving you the information you need to be informed?
This way you can get a sense of which car brokers you feel are the most legit. Only commit to choosing which car broker should help source and buy your car once you know you’ve found the right one.
Insuring your new car
Another bonus of working with a car sales broker is they can often help you access great car insurance discounts. But whether you’re reading this because you were referred by a dealer, friend or car sales broker or found this article yourself, you’re in luck.
PD Insurance gives every new member *15% discounted car insurance for a whole year! Enjoy the sense of security that comes from knowing your car is covered for accident, theft and damage. Click for more below.
*At time of writing