We’re living in a digital age and buying a car online shouldn’t surprise you. It’s as simple as buying a phone or a pressure cooker online, literally. While the internet could make our lives so much simpler, it could come with several cons, one being its legitimacy.

If and when you buy a car online, here’s a small checklist you may want to run through:

1. Hidden costs or agenda: Since you’re making an online purchase, make sure to check all cost factors involved. In an attempt to make a sale, the dealer may give away only half the required information especially with regards to the tax involved or unexplained terms and conditions.
2. Second hand car: Make sure to understand if this car is a new or used car. If you’d like some assurance, strike a deal with the vendor and request a test drive if possible.
3. Warranty: Most online deals come with great discounts. Do not be carried away, take the time to understand if the package comes with a guaranty or warranty or even a car insurance for that matter.
4. Compare: Do not get hooked on to one website, look through multiple websites. Read through the reviews of the website, if possible. It should help you understand the vendor’s authenticity.
5. Negotiation: A downfall of buying a car online is that you won’t be able to negotiate. But the good thing is that there’s always a discount waiting for you. Either way, it’s a win-win situation also considering that you wouldn’t have to run around for paper-work. It’s all handled online.
6. Value: We’d also recommend that you research the value of the model you intend investing into. While the other variables and discounts may seem too good to be true, understand its value and how it would affect your returns.

In all, buying a car online comes with cons as well as pros. Take the time to determine what works out for you or if you should even be buying a car online. We’d like to emphasize on immense research.