Over the years, car dealerships have gotten a bad reputation—often a well-deserved one—due to the way some salespeople and dealers have acted. Things like using high-pressure sales tactics, advertising bait-and-switch models, and pushing someone into financing they really can’t afford have all contributed to this. At this point, one of the last things you might want to do is search “Kia dealership near me” and go there looking to buy a new vehicle. However, there is a lot that a Kia dealer has to offer that you might not have considered.
If you’re interested in buying a new or used Kia, then a dealership is a great place to start. You might think that going through a private seller or looking online could save you some money—and you’re probably right. However, if you take a moment to consider your options and the long-term needs you’ll have, then you might realize a Kia dealership near you is a better option. It’s not just about how much money you’ll spend today—but the kinds of services you’ll need and expenses you’ll have long-term.
Let’s take a moment to explore what a Kia dealership near you can actually do for you. If afterward, you think I’m full of it, then feel free to look to a private seller or online car retailer. But a few minutes here might open your eyes to what all is out there, and how to make sure your investment is protected for years to come.
Inventory and Options
First things first, let’s say you want to buy a new or used Kia. So you start off by deciding on what model you are interested in, maybe look at some different trim levels and options, and figure out what you’re looking for. Perhaps you have a few different models in mind, perhaps some older ones as well as brand new ones from this year. Now what?
Well, the most important thing at this point is to find a large inventory of vehicles to choose from so you can actually look at the models you are interested in. If you go through a private seller, then you’re stuck with whatever they bought and the options they wanted. Going through an online retailer might offer you a good selection, but that can vary a lot from one to another. If you’re looking for a used model, then who knows what you’ll find?
This is one area where a Kia dealership near you can really shine. It’s their job to sell cars and nothing else—so of course, they want to have a huge inventory. The more vehicles they have to offer, the better chance they’ll have of having what you’re looking for. On brand new models, they’re also likely to have lots of different trim levels and options for you to choose from too.
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
If you’re looking for a used Kia but you want some kind of protection on your purchase, then a certified pre-owned vehicle is definitely the way to go. These are Kias that cannot be more than five years old, with more than 60,000 miles on them, and they’ve gone through a rigorous 164-point inspection by the manufacturer. In other words, you know that even though they are used, they are in the best condition possible.
Buying a certified pre-owned vehicle from a Kia dealership near you means it is backed by a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, along with 12 months/12,000 miles of additional coverage from the manufacturer. This includes 24-hour roadside assistance, a free CARFAX report on the vehicle, and a 10-year unlimited mileage roadside assistance plan. In other words, even though you save money by buying a pre-owned vehicle, you get a ton of protection for your purchase.
You’re not going to find this by going through a private seller, and certified pre-owned vehicles can be pretty rare on online retailer sites. In general, choosing a Kia dealership near you is the ideal way to find the best selection of these vehicles.
Financing Options
Thinking about money and financing when you’re looking to buy a vehicle usually isn’t much fun. It can be stressful and the more limited your options are, the more stressful it can become. If you want to buy from a private seller, then you pretty much have just one option: pay for the entire vehicle upfront.
A Kia dealership near you has financing professionals on-hand to help you figure out what you can reasonably afford and make sure you have a financing plan that works for you. These people have seen it all before, so no matter what your situation looks like, they will help you get it figured out. Of course, if you feel like they are trying to push you into something you cannot afford, then get out of there.
The right Kia dealership near you will make sure you end up with something that fits into your lifestyle and budget, not try to weigh you down with expenses beyond what you can afford.
Service and Repairs
Consider this: you buy a used vehicle from a friend of your neighbor or someone you come across listing their vehicle online, and you drive away happy. Two weeks later the car won’t start, or you notice a weird sound coming from the engine. Now what? The sale is final and good luck getting that guy on the phone.
When you buy from a Kia dealership near you, then you know exactly where the vehicle came from and who to turn to if there’s a problem. You don’t have to worry about finding the guy or going to a random mechanic you’ve never met before. You can take your Kia back to the dealership for service, routine maintenance, or any repairs you end up needing over the next few years.
Long-Term Options
Ultimately, that’s one of the biggest things a Kia dealership near you has to offer, rather than going through an online dealer or buying from a private seller in your area: a long-term relationship. Good dealerships aren’t out to just make a sale and move on, because no vehicle, no matter how good it is, will last forever and it will need ongoing service and maintenance. A good dealership should want to build a lasting relationship with you as their customer because it’s good for them and it makes your life easier.
They should want you to come back to get an oil change or have your filters replaced. If you get into a collision, then they will be there to help you with repairs and service for your vehicle. And when it’s time for you to get a new Kia, then they want you to come back to them. That guy posting his old vehicle for sale online, he doesn’t care if you ever come back—he just wants to sell his car.
Of course, not every dealership necessarily has this mindset, but they really should. You’ll know you have found the right Kia dealership near you when you get this sense that they want to work with you and build a long-term relationship. If it doesn’t feel that way; if they seem out to make a quick sale and then never see you again, then get out of there and find a dealership near you that knows how to treat you right.
