Struggling to Find a Columbus, OH Used Dealership?

You can’t find a good used car dealer in Columbus, Ohio? We get it. It can be difficult sorting through the dozens and dozens of options in pursuit of your perfect used car. Not only can the Google or Yelp reviews be bad or misleading, but once you actually visit the business, all of your fears are seemingly confirmed.

There’s another thing to consider: many of these dealerships are great at putting on a facade. In other words, while they may appear to be reputable from the outside, you can quickly find out if they’re someone you shouldn’t be buying from. But that isn’t always the case either, just because there are a few bad eggs in the bunch, doesn’t mean that all used car dealerships are bad.

Below, we’ve explored some of the things you should be looking out for as you’re shopping around for your next used car. Then, we explain why none of these details should be a concern for those living in Columbus, Ohio, considering the presence of McCluskey Chevrolet just a few cities away.

Quality of Inventory

This isn’t as relevant for new car dealerships. However, if you’re shopping around for a used vehicle, then you’ll want to keep an eye on the quality of a dealership’s used options as you’re evaluating the business’s overall credibility.

To start, each of the vehicles should be clean both on the inside and outside, and this is regardless of the number of miles on the odometer. If the dealership is serious about making sales and providing customers with an excellent buying experience, they’ll do everything in their power to ensure the inventory is up-to-par.

The same sentiment goes for the quality of the driving experience; if you notice anything odd when traveling in your targeted ride, you may want to think twice about the dealership. After all, if the dealership is reputable, would they really be trying to sell a vehicle that has mechanical issues?

Finally, look at the certified pre-owned vehicles the dealership has on their lot. These used vehicles are backed by the brand and in many cases, the dealership. In a lot of cases, dealerships will attach their own much-appreciated warranties to the vehicle. In other words, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about with these specific offerings. You want a dealership that offers CPO vehicles as they are like new, and you want a dealership that goes the extra mile with additional checks to the quality of the vehicle beyond what the manufacturer requires.

Documentation

This should seem fairly obvious, but many customers aren’t aware of all the documents that should accompany the purchase of a used car. Following the completion of your transaction, the dealership should be providing you with a handful of papers that will prove your ownership. If the dealership doesn’t have this documentation, then it should be cause for alarm.

Specifically, you’re going to need a title for your purchase, and any reputable dealership will surely have this in hand. If they don’t? Then it’s a clear sign that you’re opting for a financially-detrimental deal. Often times, if the dealership isn’t in possession of a title, it means the bank is. If that’s the case, that means the previous owner (whether it be the dealership or a private seller) ditched the vehicle before having completed their loan. If the dealership fails to pay off that loan, then you won’t be able to register the vehicle, and this means it legally can’t be on the road.

This specific scenario may sound rare, but you’d be surprised how many unassuming customers opt for these types of used vehicles every day. If the dealership doesn’t possess a car title (or, at the very least, if they don’t have a worthy explanation for the lack of title), you should run away from that particular business as quickly as possible.

Of course, you don’t want to complete your transaction before you notice this issue. Therefore, when you’re first starting to buy a vehicle from the dealership or seller, you should ask to view these essential documents. If the business pushes back, it is a definite cause for concern.

Warranties

Speaking of these essential protection plans, you should be especially aware of a dealership’s willingness to hand out a warranty. Nowadays, many businesses automatically attach some kind of warranty to each of their used vehicles, thus providing the customer with some kind of protection. These warranties are generally signs that the dealership is plenty reputable, especially if they have an accompanying service center.

So when should you be worried? Well, you should be a bit alarmed when the dealership isn’t as willing to hand out those warranties. Many businesses are required by law to provide some kind of protection, and many dealerships will (proudly) go above and beyond when it comes to these individual plans. However, if the seller is only giving you the bare minimum when it comes to warranties or if you had to coax that warranty out of them, it might be a better idea to shop elsewhere.

As we mentioned earlier, many great dealerships automatically attach some warranty to their used cars, either out of the goodness of their own heart or state regulations. You want a dealership that is proud of the quality of their vehicles and who want you aware of it too.

What Can McCluskey Offer You?

Fortunately, if you live in the Columbus, Ohio area, you shouldn’t have any worries about the credibility of a dealership. That’s because McCluskey Chevrolet is one of the most distinguished and respected dealerships in the entire area, and our years of service prove that we are solely focused on you, the customer.

For instance, our array of services is intended to help our buyers, not scare them away. Our finance department will work with you to find a logical payment plan that fits your budget and your needs, and our service department is in place for any maintenance you might need. Of course, our helpful sales team is also on hand to answer any of your car-related questions. We will never push you into a car that doesn’t fit your needs or your budget; we are to help you find your perfect vehicle, not force you into one that doesn’t meet your needs.

Located right in Cincinnati, our dealership is a relatively quick ride from Columbus, Ohio. However, when you begin researching dealerships, you’re going to quickly understand that you want to side with the best dealership in the state. In that case, it’s more-than-worth the road trip to visit McCluskey.