I get asked about buying a car during this pandemic all the time, so I wanted to use this month’s article to answer the questions people ask most frequently.
Sponsored Content by Roger Beasley Mazda
Is it safe to buy a car during a pandemic?
I can only speak for Roger Beasley dealerships, but we have implemented all recommended social-distancing and safety protocols and procedures. While there is always a risk whenever going in public, we are doing our best to make sure our dealerships are as safe as possible. Roger Beasley has also launched an online store that allows you to purchase a vehicle 100 percent online; you don’t ever have to leave your house or step foot in the dealership!
Wait, you can actually buy a car 100 percent online?
Yep, and we will even deliver the vehicle to your home for free! Visit express.rogerbeasley.com, browse our inventory and choose the vehicle you want, customize your monthly payments and financing, get a trade-in estimate, fill out a credit application and any other necessary documents, then submit for a final review. We will then deliver the vehicle to you, have you sign all the documents, and take your trade-in if needed. It really is that easy.
But what if I want to test drive the vehicle first?
We will bring the vehicle to you for a test drive and pick it up the next morning. If it all works out, we will simply bring the paperwork out to you to sign and finalize the deal.
Are the deals actually as good as they sound?
They are pretty darn good. At the time I am writing this, Mazda and Hyundai are offering a 0-percent annual percentage rate (APR) for 60 months (some for even longer) to qualified buyers plus deferred payments. Visit our website for the most current offers.
How much does 0-percent APR really save you?
According to Edmunds, the average cost of a new car in 2019 was $36,718. Typically, a “really good” APR for an auto loan is around 2.9 percent for buyers with great credit. If you financed $36,718 for 60 months with a 2.9-percent APR, you would pay about $2,770 in interest. So, with 0-percent APR, you would save almost $3,000!
Is buying a car right now a good idea?
So many people have been affected by this pandemic and are not in the best financial situation right now, so, for them, I would not encourage going out to buy a new car just because the deals are really good and dealers are offering a lot of great perks. But, if you are in need of a new vehicle or have been considering upgrading in the next year and are in a comfortable position to do so, I would say now is a great time to buy a new car! It just all depends on your situation.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email me directly at cbancroft@rogerbeasley.com and I will do my best to answer them! While I am not a salesperson, I do help guide women with their car buying process all the time and am happy to help any Austin Woman reader as well.