Trusted dealers: finding one you can rely on

24/01/11

How can you be sure you're buying from a trusted dealer? There are thousands of businesses selling cars out there – but which ones really deserve your hard-earned cash? Use this motors.co.uk guide to trusted dealers and pick the best to buy from.

Ask around
Personal recommendation is invaluable. Quiz friends, neighbours, work colleagues about their car-buying experiences. And, more importantly, what was the after sales follow-up like? If the same few names trip off their lips, you’ve a list of trusted dealers.

Use ‘good garage’ guides
Many local authorities run these schemes – The West Yorkshire Trading Standards Motor Trade Partnership is one such. To become members, dealers must agree to a code of conduct. If a buyer complains, there’s a formal process to reach a settlement. There is also the Motor Codes scheme, which operates nationally and along similar lines.
If a garage uses the logo from any such scheme on its paperwork or advertising, do check before buying that the business actually belongs to the scheme. Look on the scheme’s web site, which should carry a list of members..

Use long-established businesses
Garages that have been around for ages understand the importance of looking after customers and so gaining repeat custom. Find one that’s been there for years, trading continuously.

Traders posing as private sellers
Here at motors.co.uk we do all we can to ensure that only bona-fide private sellers are listed in our advertisements as such. But, despite our best efforts, it is always possible that one may slip through. To check if a private seller is genuine, say that you’re calling about ‘the car’ when you make contact, rather than ‘the Clio’ or ‘the 5-series’. If they’re a trader (and so have more than one car to sell), they’ll have to ask you ‘which car?’

Finally, trust your instincts
When you visit a garage, look beyond the obvious. Is the showroom well kept and are the staff friendly? Ask the sales person you deal with how long they’ve been in their job – set-ups that rely on high-pressure selling rarely keep staff for long. Take a look, if you can, at the workshop where cars are serviced – is it orderly and obviously well run?

For more great advice, try the motors.co.uk buying section.