As the capital city of Connecticut, Hartford is home to a large population of both people and businesses. As such, the demand for cars is high here. Those who live in the city require vehicles to travel out of the area, and those who work in the many businesses located within the city require transportation to get into the area.

If you are one of the many people who are looking for a car in the Hartford area, you are likely looking for a car dealership to service your needs. While there are many car dealerships in Hartford CT, if you want to get a reliable vehicle at the best price, you are going to want to shop at a reputable dealership.

Instead of simply stopping in and looking around at the first car dealership you spot, take these tips into consideration in order to find a trusted dealer.

Ask Around

One of the easiest methods for finding a reputable dealership in the Hartford area is asking around. If you have a friend or family member who recently purchased a vehicle in the area, ask him or her about the dealership that was used. Ask if this person was satisfied with his or her experience and whether or not he or she would recommend that you shop there. Word of mouth is often the best reference when it comes to buying anything, especially a car.

Check for Yourself

If you don’t know anyone who recently purchased a car in the Hartford area, you can go about finding a reputable dealer by checking out dealerships yourself. Do some research online by typing in “car dealership” and “Hartford, CT” into your preferred search engine. If you are looking for a particular make of a car, add the name into your search.  You will receive a number of results for your search. Take a look at the different websites. Write down things that interest you, including the makes and models of vehicles that are offered; if you’re interested in a pre-owned car, note whether the dealerships offer pre-owned vehicles; whether or not they offer financing and anything else that you find notable about the dealership.

Ask Questions

Once you find a handful of dealerships that have peeked your interest, conduct interviews. Head to the dealership and ask questions, including:

*  Where their inventory comes from
*  Whether their pre-owned vehicles are certified and if so, if you can see a report that documents their past ownership
*  Whether or not there is a return policy on both new and pre-owned vehicles
*  What type of financing is offered
*  Whether or not special packages are available, such as extended warranties
*  If they take trade-ins and how much they offer for vehicles that are traded in
*  If any extras could possibly be added on to the final sale of the car – an upgraded stereo system, for example.

Document the answers that each of the dealerships you visit gives you. Compare your notes from each dealership and go with the one that you feel provides the best options and made you feel the most comfortable.

Red Flags to Notice

In order to make sure that you don’t get the run-around and taken advantage of, note any red flags that pop up. These red flags are a good indication that the dealership is not reliable and that you may end up being taken advantage of.

The following are sure signs of a non-reputable car dealership:

*  Price Gouging: If there are any signs of price gauging, don’t walk – run away from the car dealership. Signs of price gauging include a list of strange fees. While yes, some fees are to be expected, if you see that there are strange prices that don’t really make sense and leave you scratching your head, this is a sign of price gauging. A non-reputable dealership may add extra fees onto a car so that they can effectively up the price of the car, making the total cost more than it is worth. In the end, you will wind up being taken advantage of and getting a very raw deal.

*  The Run Around: If you are applying for financing and you are being given the run around by the financing department at the dealership, this is a red flag. You shouldn’t have to fill out application after application and you shouldn’t be given one rate and then another. Financing should be cut and dry; there shouldn’t be any run around involved.

*  Being Hassled: If you feel like you are being hassled or pushed into something, this is another red flag. You should never feel like you are obligated to buy anything.

By following these guidelines, you can find a reputable car dealership in the Hartford area with ease.

About the Author: Toby B. Jackson is a car dealer that has been servicing the greater Hartford area for 25 years.