If you are shopping around for a used car for sale, you have a few ways to go about it. You can either buy from an independent used car dealer or you can buy from a franchise car dealer. There are several differences, including pros and cons, between the two types of car dealerships. As far as purchasing and financing a used vehicle, however, there are many benefits of buying a car from an independent car dealer.
Independent Used Car Dealer Benefits
What is an Independent Used Car Dealer?
Independent car dealerships are the types of dealers that are often named after their owners or family names, such as “Ted’s Used Cars.” Their titles don’t include the makes or models (brands, such as Honda or Toyota) of vehicles because as independent dealers, they don’t have ownership over a franchise from a specific manufacturer or manufacturers. Often times, they’ll have a large selection of used cars in their inventory vs. new vehicles.
What are the Benefits of an Independent Used Car Dealer?
For used car shoppers, there are several advantages of an independent used car dealer. For one, they often offer some of the best prices on used vehicles. Independent car dealers typically don’t have the overhead associated with franchise royalties and large dealer groups that focus heavily on the bottom line. Because their inventory of used cars is often older than that of franchise dealerships, you have a much better chance of finding an affordable used car, regardless of your situation — especially if you’re looking at older models.
In-House Financing
If you’re looking for tips for buying a used car from an independent car dealership, be sure to see if they have in-house financing — as many of them do (just like Frank’s!). This means you can finance through the dealership instead of through a third party, such as a bank. If you don’t have good credit, this might be a good choice because if you do make your payments in full and on time, it’s a way to repair your credit over time.
Independent Used Car Dealers vs Franchise Dealers
Franchise dealerships, on the other hand, have a much smaller used car inventory and a larger inventory of newer models. It’s necessary to have a good credit score to purchase a vehicle from a franchise dealership as well.
If you are shopping for a new car and have good enough credit to finance the investment, a franchise dealership may be right for you. However, if you’re working on a budget with a less-than-perfect credit score, an independent dealership will be better suited for your needs.
At Frank’s Auto Credit, we’re a buy here pay here car dealer dedicated to selecting the top pre-owned vehicles in Hartford County and making them available to you at competitively low prices. Come see what we have to offer!
