Are you ready to buy your first—or next—new or used car? Though the type of car you buy is one of the decisions you’ll have to make, it’s not the only one. You will also need to decide which dealership to buy it from.

Working with the right dealership ensures your car-buying experience will be low-stress and that you can be confident that the vehicle you drive off the lot will be safe and not need major repairs any time soon.

Here’s how to evaluate El Paso car dealerships so you can make a solid choice.

Ask Around

Before you visit any dealerships, ask around to friends, colleagues, and family members to see if any have bought a new or used car recently. If someone has, ask them if they would or would not recommend the dealership and why. This is a great way to narrow down El Paso dealerships to a handful you want to consider.

Read Online Reviews

You can learn a lot about a dealership by reading their online reviews. Go to Facebook, Yelp, and Google to see what past customers have said about local dealerships. Opt for dealerships that have a majority of five-star reviews and that took the time to reply to any negative reviews with offers of correcting bad experiences.

Know What You Want

You need to find a dealership that will have the type of vehicle you are looking for. If you want to buy a new car, you need to go to the local dealership for the make of vehicle you want. If you’re considering a used car, you can go to any type of dealership as most will carry a range of used vehicles in various makes, models, and years. You should also have an idea of your budget and any must-haves in your next vehicle to make your search easier.

Find Out Financing Options

If you don’t plan to pay cash for your new car, you need to look into financing options offered by the dealership. Some will offer special low-interest financing or offer no payments for a month or two. Keep in mind that you don’t need to use dealership financing—you can also secure an auto loan from your local bank or credit union.

Helpful and Informative Staff

The dealership team should be full of helpful people who are willing to answer all your questions and not push too hard to make a sale. The best way to find out how the team will treat you is to go into the dealership and look around. See how long it takes for someone to help you and ask several questions to get a good feel for their customer service skills.

El Paso Car Dealerships: Making the Right Choice

Buying a new or used car is an important decision and one that will be much less stressful if you choose a dealership that is helpful and will be there for you even after you drive off the lot. To make a solid decision, do your research, ask around, and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions.