Tips for Getting a Great Car Deal Right Now | Cleveland Bradley County Teachers Federal Credit Union
With a global pandemic on and so much uncertainty about the economy, buying a car may be the last thing on your mind. Still, car dealers are taking steps to keep you safe while making the car buying process easier and more convenient, and there are some incredible deals out there for the taking.
According to the auto industry analysts at Edmunds, April was the worst month for car sales since at least the early 1990s. In fact, that month was down 62.5% from April 2019, and May appears likely to be significantly down from the same month a year ago. All that means car brands and dealers have a glut of supply and no one buying it, so they’re offering some great deals.
Some models are being offered with incentives that could take as much as $8,000 off sticker prices. And we’re offering great rates on financing that could save you thousands more over the life of your loan!
That’s not to say everyone should rush out and buy a car right now. If you aren’t in a financially stable place or work in an industry hit hard by the economic turmoil caused by the virus, you may need to wait a while for your financial situation or your employer to get its feet under it.
Safe Car Shopping in a Pandemic
If you’re ready to take the leap on a new or used car, you may be concerned about shopping for one with a highly contagious virus spreading in our area. Fortunately, dealers are taking steps to help keep you safe and there are some things you can do to further protect yourself.
We aren’t doctors and there’s no way to entirely avoid risk when you’re dealing with others who may unknowingly carry the virus, but these tips should help reduce your risk:
What Dealers Are Doing
State and local leaders haven’t mandated special precautions for dealerships, but to mitigate risk and the fear potential customers feel, many are taking their own steps to protect shoppers, including:
- Requiring employees to wear masks at all times and gloves when inside cars and touching anything customers might touch
- Cleaning and sanitizing high-touch surfaces frequently
- Disinfecting cars between drivers, including between test drives
- Delivering vehicles to customers’ homes so they can avoid coming out to the dealerships
What You Can Do
If you decide this is the time to buy a car, there are steps you can take to further protect yourself and others during the car-buying process, such as:
- Do your shopping online. Car manufacturers let customers configure models exactly as they want them online and find models that match those specs or nearly do at nearby dealerships.
- Wear a mask when in public and wash your hands after touching surfaces others may have touched. If it makes you more comfortable, wear gloves for the test drive, but stay vigilant even with this extra layer of protection.
- Demand protection with your wallet. If an employee who takes you on a test drive or negotiates with you isn’t wearing a mask and that makes you uncomfortable, don’t be nervous about asking him or her to put one on. If you get pushback, make it clear you and your car-buying dollars can go elsewhere.
If you’re ready to buy a new or used car, our loan officers are ready to help you and we’re taking every precaution to protect you when you stop by either of our locations in Cleveland.