Are you tired of renting and ready to hit the dirt tracks on your own ATV? Buying your first vehicle can be exciting, but finding the best deal can be a minefield. When buying new or used, who wouldn’t want the best value for money?

Getting a great deal you can trust involves finding the best local ATV trader. Below, we give our guide on what to look out for when approaching the dealership.

1. Ask Around

The best form of marketing for any business is word of mouth. If you enjoy using your ATV as a hobby, then you probably have friends and acquaintances who do the same. They should be your first source of information when finding an ATV dealer.

People who have bought before will know the pitfalls and dangers of buying an ATV. They will have experiences, both good and bad, from local ATV sales companies. You may even be able to get a favourable discount through recommendations.

2. Check Their Online Presence

If a dealership does not have a good looking, functional website, then it shows that they are a little out of touch and date. A good website should at least show the models and makes of ATV they have in stock or may get soon. These should have good, well-taken pictures with lots of information.

After this, check their social media presence. At the least, they should have a Facebook page. Look through their posts and comments and see how they speak and react to customers.

3. Check Online Reviews

Google and Facebook are great sources of information when looking for a dealer. Reviews on them are better than ones on the company website as they are independent. People frequently use it to tell you the good and bad points of local businesses.

If a company has mainly favourable reviews with a few bad ones, do not write the company off. Instead, ask them about the issues when you visit. You may find they had perfectly acceptable misunderstandings with customers.

Any company reviews that are all five stars, or companies that have no reviews at all, should be avoided. If a company has all glowing reviews, it probably did them itself. No reviews say that the company is inexperienced or has deleted all forms of online review, which can not be a good sign.

4. Email the ATV Trader in Advance

One way to check how the business deals with customer service are to send all the local dealerships in your local area an email. Pose genuine queries and see how they reply, if they reply at all.

Dealerships that get back to you quickly and answer your questions are much more likely to have better customer service skills. If it takes a while for someone to reply, or they don’t reply at all, it shows that they do not value customer service.

If you have a few ATV models you are interested in buying, try asking them about their best prices. Select the two that offer the best deal, then let them know they are competing for each other’s business. This can get you a great deal on an ATV and can show you how much a dealer values your custom.

5. Ask How Long They Have Been Trading

While many new dealerships can give you great deals and have excellent customer service, selling ATVs, new or old, is a hard business. A lot of new companies go bust in the first few years. If you need to visit them for aftercare or repairs done on your warranty and they are not around, then you will be out of pocket.

In contrast, dealerships that have been around for a long time have stayed for a reason. They will have built up a great reputation and probably have excellent products, prices, and customer service. Besides, they will have experience and will be able to give you the best advice on ATVs.

6. Are They a Member of Any Organizations?

If your dealer sells other items, such as boats or cars, they may be members of a registered association or organization. To get this, your dealer would have had to conform to a number of standards. All of these would go some way toward telling you the dealer is reputable.

7. What Aftercare Is Available?

Dealers will most likely offer you a warranty with your ATV. If you don’t get one, then you should look elsewhere.

A dealer should be confident that they are selling a quality product, be it new or used. If they are trying to get away without offering a warranty, it shows that they are not confident that the product will survive.

8. Be Aware of Four Square Contracts

A four-square contract is a tricky way in which a dealer can find out how much you are willing to pay per month, then adjust financing, so they get the best deal. You end up paying way over the odds.

This is done by asking how much you have as a down payment and how much you are willing to pay per month. It is an easy way for them to disguise a lot of hidden fees. If a dealer asks to know these amounts, then tell them you only want to deal with the amount you are willing to pay overall.

Considering an ATV Trade-In

Many dealers have trade-in programs. They allow you to trade a motorcycle for an ATV, used car for an ATV, or an older model ATV. This will give you a discount on a new or replacement model.

This allows your money to go even further, so if you are on a budget and need to get rid of an old vehicle, it is a great option. Using a trade-in system has many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to avoid a private sale. Yes, you may get more money by selling privately, but many people underestimate the time and effort it takes. This is particularly true if you are selling.

A seller must first list their ATV on many sites. They must wash, clean and maintain any damage or problems with the vehicle or sell it at a lower price with problems. Finally, they have to deal with customers, making appointments, trying to barter, and very often just wasting time.

Also, selling is danger in itself. Fake cheques and money are ripe in private trades.

If you are buying privately, you face a number of risks. Sold vehicles may have improper documentation or damage that you do not see on the visit. You also have no guarantee about how well they have been maintained.

Researching a Trade-In

Before researching a trade-in, do some research about the brand and model you want to buy. Try out some ATVs that friends ride or rent a few different ones. You should also consider how you will use it, as sport and recreation ATVs can be very different.

Yamaha, Honda, Can-Am, and Polaris are all top brands that make reliable vehicles. The popularity of the vehicle will determine how much you can get for your trade-in. If you want a model, the dealer has less likelihood of selling; they will be more likely to offer you a better deal on it.

Next, email around a few dealerships or visit their websites. Check the inventory and see if they have anything that interests you. Send an email and see if they come back with any offers or discounts to entice you.

Before you visit a dealership and discuss a trade-in, find out the value of the vehicle you want to trade. Look in private listings with similar mileage and models. Take into account that dealers will always offer less than a private sale, as they have to turn a profit.

Now you can begin looking at trade-ins in your local dealerships. If you are trading in something other than an ATV, check they will accept it first. Some places take everything from lawnmowers to boats and electronics.

Decide if you will be paying for warranty and protection programs. A warranty is always advised for at least one year and may come free on new models. You will then decide how you will be paying and if you require finance, which the dealership may be able to provide.

Buying on Finance

Many dealerships will offer finance as a payment, and some may even try to persuade you to take out a loan for the ATV. This is because the finance is handled by a separate company, which may provide kickbacks to the dealership.

Buying with finance is entirely up to you. Of course, you will always end up paying more for the product than if you had bought it outright. However, depending on your financial situation, a loan may be a better offer.

Shop Around

Finally, remember to shop around and visit a number of dealerships. They will all have different offers, some of which may suit you better than others. A good ATV trader will want you to come back time and time again, so you will be more than willing to provide a great deal.

Westshore Marine and Leisure are reliable, experienced providers of boats, snowmobiles, and ATVs. We have a huge range of new and used products, along with rentals. Contact us and tell us about your ATV needs so that we can fix you up with the ride of your life!