10 Precautions while buying a new/used car | Unlock 2 Special!

With the global pandemic still on, India now stands at the 4th place among the worst affected nations in the world. It has been over 6 months now. Coronavirus outbreak started in China at the beginning of 2020. We guess it wasn’t a good start. Several nations tried several tactics to control the spread of the virus but most of them failed. India too observed multiple stages of lockdown. The dwindling economic situation made the government to slowly move towards normalcy but we still need to take some precautions. Non-essential movements have begun now but we still need to take certain precautions to ensure our safety. People are back at car showrooms buying new cars. Here is a list of precautions that you can take while buying a car during the pandemic situation.

1. Prefer online booking
   

   

   In case you are buying a new car, this will be very easy for you. All the new car manufacturers are now accepting online bookings for cars. If you are sure about which vehicle you want to purchase, just order it online like you order other stuff. From budget car makers like Hyundai and Tata to luxury car makers like Mercedes have started online bookings for their cars. This is the safest way out if you want to buy a new car while the pandemic is still on!

   Read Online Car Sales in India | Will it Kill the Dealership Business?

2. Doorstep Test Drive

   

   Home-based test drives aren’t new. Dealerships have been doing this since ages now. If you want to experience a car before buying it, a test drive is the only way. You can call for a home test drive during the corona outbreak. Make sure there is a plastic wrap on the driver’s seat before you step into the test drive vehicle. Also, you can ask for a fresh plastic wrap replacement in front of your eyes. Also, keep a sanitiser/disinfectant handy and use it on all the touch points like steering and gear knob. You can also ask the showroom personnel to do it for you.

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3. Select your Dealership carefully
   

   

   Be really careful about choosing the dealerships. All of us know they the country is divided into different zones depending upon the number of cases they have. Avoid the dealerships situated in the containment zones or in the hotspot areas. Prefer dealerships from the orange or green areas (most preferable) to ensure a safe car buying experience.

4. Ask the dealerships for precautionary measures
   

   

   Another one on our list of precautions while buying a car is talking to the dealership before your visit. If you want to visit the dealership anyhow, you should first check with the dealerships about the precautions they are taking to reduce the spread of the pandemic disease. You should avoid visiting the showrooms in these times but if you don’t have any other option, make sure the showroom is following all the protocols laid down by the WHO. Ask them about how they keep the cars sanitised and if they check their staff for symptoms on a daily basis.

5. Self-Awareness
   

   

   Asking the showroom for precautionary measures they are taking is a must. Along with that, you need to focus on what measures you are taking as an individual too. Although this one is on our list of precautions while buying a car, this tip will help you fight the pandemic in general too. It has been long since the outbreak took place. People are now habitual of keeping masks and sanitisers ready with them. But there’s no harm in giving a reminder again!

6. Complete Car Sanitisation
   

   

   This is the most important tip for all car buyers. Whether you are buying a new car or a used car, sanitisation is a must. While the new car dealerships might do it for you, those buying used cars can ask the dealership to deliver it at a GoMechanic workshop near you. We will take care of all the sanitisation needs and will deliver your car straight to your home following our completely contactless experience.

   Read 7 Coronavirus Travel Essentials to have in your car!

7. Ask for a brief vehicle history
   

   

   In case you are going for a used car, you can ask the dealer to provide you with the history of the vehicle. You can ask for the places it has been serviced at and many more things related to the vehicle. Considering the pandemic, you can also ask the dealer about the previous owner of the car and go for a serious contact tracing process to ensure full safety. You would say that sanitising the vehicle will help reduce the risk of the virus. This precaution was just to be on a safer side so that you don’t end up in trouble anyhow.

8. Social Distancing is the key
   

   

   Keeping a 6-feet distance is the key nowadays. Following the same, we should keep a safe distance at the dealership whenever we visit. Although we should avoid visiting the dealerships frequently in case you need to visit it anyhow, just remember, social distancing is the key! We should sincerely follow the principle of social distancing no matter what place we are visiting.

9. Cashless payment modes
   

   

   Switch to cashless payment modes. From small daily expenses to large expenses like buying a car, go completely cashless. You can pay for your new/used car using online modes like NEFT or RTGS. Avoid using cash for making any payments. Showrooms are also encouraging cashless transactions because counting lakhs of rupees in cash means contact exchange and a lot of it!

10. Digital Paperwork
    

    

    Another major factor that encourages contact is paperwork. Ask your dealership to go digital in this aspect too. This is another important one among the precautions to be followed while buying a car. Don’t mistake this precaution for a process where the dealership gives you a device to use and sign the documents. Ask them to e-mail the documents and then reply with the signed documents using your own device.

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