How to Avoid Being Overcharged for Your Car

It is horrible to be quoted one price and then charged a lot more for a vehicle.

Not only does it ruin your trust in the dealership, but it also rips hard-earned money from your hands. Unfortunately, there are many shady dealerships and scams that will overcharge without worrying about how this affects customers. By familiarizing yourself with the telltale signs of fraud, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re paying a fair price for an automobile.

Here are some of the top auto-related scams:

  • Low credit score scams. Do you have a low credit score? If so, beware of a traditional dealer’s finance department, which may try to take advantage through artificially hiked interest rates or monthly payments. Fortunately, you can go through the three main credit agencies to learn your credit score before shopping for a vehicle. The primary agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Then, work with a dealership that specializes in working with people who have blemished credit histories.
  • One-day only sale. Unless otherwise advertised, anytime a dealer or salesperson claims a price is only good for that day, you should be wary of the offer on the table. While there are some instances where this might be true, such as rebates, you shouldn’t believe prices are only good for a day. More than likely, the sales person doesn’t want you to research and discover that you’re about to overpay for a vehicle.
  • Spot delivery scams. Be sure to have financing figured out before you take the car home. In a spot delivery scam, the dealer tells you to take the car home, only to follow-up with a phone call later announcing that they couldn’t secure the financing you wanted. Now, you either have to pay a larger down payment or increase the monthly payment. Most buyers are pressured into keeping the vehicle once it’s in their possession.

Fortunately, DriveTime operates in a much more ethical business manner. The price you see is the price you pay at DriveTime, with no “adjustments” or additions. Compare this to traditional dealerships where pricing “adjustments,” flurries of paper work, and dishonest deals can suddenly jack up the price of a car.

With no-haggle prices, you know that you’re getting the best available deal. You can even research the prices online to ensure that you’re not being overcharged for a vehicle!

By browsing vehicles online, you’ll know what price to expect to pay before you even step foot onto a DriveTime lot. Since each car is backed with an AutoCheck History Report and a multi-point inspection, you can rest assured that you’re getting a quality vehicle at the most competitive price available.

Our finance department is committed to working with you to help find the best deal. It takes only a few seconds to get approved and learn about the options available. With DriveTime, there’s no hassle, stress, or any of the headaches that accompany a visit to a traditional dealership. Since we’re transparent about the way we do business, you know that you’re getting the best deal possible.

Contact DriveTime today to learn more about the best prices in the market today.

  4 Comments

  1. Charles Hammond   •  

    I was over charged by drive time for my car I got from you in 2016 I’m just realizing how much I was over charged

    • Customer Relations   •  

      Hello Charles,

      Thank you for sharing your review with us. I regret to hear you are unhappy and apologize if you are feeling mislead.

      We believe in transparency and show all the pricing details during our sales process, including our website. Please know Bridgecrest, our loan servicing partner, offers the financing for DriveTime’s approvals. The options are based on the required documentation given to us at the time of our customer’s visit, along with their current credit score. Sometimes the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) proposed is higher than expected when working with credit that is less than perfect. We also supply a Federal Truth in Lending Disclosure that details the APR finance charge, total amount expected to be paid throughout the life of the loan, as well as the total sales price.

      We appreciate the time you have taken to share your feedback with us. Should you wish to further discuss this matter, please reach out to Bridgecrest at (800) 967-8526, and a member of their team will be glad to speak with you.

      Kindly,

      Rebekah – DriveTime Customer Relations

  2. Andrew Myers   •  

    DriveTime screwed me over did not let me know I had to pay the full term of the loan that I could not pay my principal and be done with the loan so now I’m stuck with a car for 6 years that’ll be worthless DriveTime buyer beware scam artist

    • Customer Relations   •  

      Hello Andrew,

      Thank you for reaching out and providing your review. I am sorry to hear of your disappointment regarding the overall price presented to you on your vehicle of choice.

      In regards to your final purchase price, please know that it is our goal to be upfront with our patrons. During contracting, we furnish an itemized Federal Truth in Lending Disclosure to each customer and at which time your salesman will be glad to go over the breakdowns with you. This document provides in detail your APR, finance charge, the total amount financed, total amount expected to be paid throughout the life of the loan, and total sales price.

      Should you have any questions about the interest you will be paying on your vehicle, please contact Bridgecrest, your loan servicing provider, at (800) 967-8526, and a representative would be glad to assist. We appreciate all feedback and will be using this where training and coaching opportunities are needed. You may also contact my department directly at (888) 290-0148 should you wish to discuss your review in further detail.

      Respectfully,

      DriveTime Customer Relations

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