What's a reasonable time to spend at a dealership buying a car?
I've heard horror stories of 4-6 hours at dealerships. Is that normal? What can I do to speed it up? I can't lose an entire Saturday.
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asked 16 Aug 2024, 4:18 pm by Kate T.
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With preparation, you can be in and out in 2 hours. How: get pre-approved before arriving, have insurance info ready, know exactly which vehicle (research online), negotiate via email before visiting, schedule weekday morning when quiet. The 4-6 hour experience happens when you walk in unprepared on a busy Saturday.
Last purchase: 90 minutes. Got OTD price via email, brought cashier's check for exact amount, refused all add-ons. The key is doing all negotiation remotely. Show up just to sign and drive.