When in the market for a new car, most people just hit the car lot or scroll through the available inventory at their local dealership. If something catches the eye, it’s just a matter of negotiating a price before driving away with the purchase. The thing about car shopping is that it doesn’t have to follow the tried-and-true process.
You don’t have to settle for what’s available if what’s available isn’t what you’re looking for. There is such a thing as factory-direct. People from other countries are quite familiar with the process of a custom order car. It isn’t out of the realm of possibilities here, either. So, let’s talk about how to order a car from the factory.
How Does Ordering a Car Work?
How to order a car can vary slightly from automaker to automaker but usually involves an auto dealership, as someone will inevitably need to handle the paperwork and oversee delivery. Allways Atascosa offers a custom order service for customers. We would be delighted to assist you. Here’s a quick breakdown of the process:
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Work out the financing.
Before starting the process, you may want to work with your bank or credit union on an auto loan. You can also research the dealership’s financing options if you choose this route. Either will work for a custom order car.
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Visit the manufacturer’s website.
While some dealerships will do all the work for you, using the “build and price” feature on a manufacturer’s website is always a good idea before working with a sales rep. Going through the process at home can help relieve some of the pressure you might feel at the dealership to decide immediately.
It’ll also give you some time to play around with the various features offered by the manufacturer and get a better idea of the ticket price. Besides, some dealerships want a copy of your design before an appointment. Feel free to call the dealership to see what they’d prefer.
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Schedule an appointment.
Once you’ve settled on the details, it’s time to contact the dealership to let them know your interest in a custom order car. They may ask you to come right in. Bring a copy of the design, even if they don’t need it. It can be a good reminder of what you ultimately want and can speed up the process.
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Talk price.
Here’s a little trade secret, you can negotiate “out-the-door” prices on a custom order car. It’s just like any other vehicle purchase, so treat it as such. Discuss what sort of deal they can offer you.
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Sign the paperwork.
You can sign the buyer’s order if you’re cool with the price. The sales manager will need to do the same — and the reason comes down to price. You want to lock in that agreed-upon price for the car before leaving the lot. Don’t walk away without a signed copy for yourself. A second copy should stay with the sales manager.
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Bide your time.
Being a custom order car, it will take some time to arrive. But the dealership should inform you where the car is in the process. Feel free to email or call for updates, though.
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Negotiate the trade-in.
If you intend to trade in your car, it isn’t until your new car arrives that you’ll negotiate the price for your old vehicle. Research to arrive at a fair market value for your car. You may not get that, but it can be a good negotiation starting point.
How to order a car from the factory isn’t that complex of a process. Nor does it take all that long — other than waiting for the delivery. Contact us today to learn more about the process or have additional questions. A member of the Allways Atascosa team would be more than happy to talk you through the custom order process.
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