7 Questions Car Dealerships Hate You to Ask (And What to Ask Instead)

Buying a car can be stressful, so it's important to be prepared when you visit the dealership. To make smart money moves if you own a car or are looking to buy your first vehicle, you need to ask the right questions.

Fail to prepare, and it's all too easy to end up asking the wrong questions. This could prevent you from lowering your car costs or even stop you from getting the car you want.

Before you head to your local dealership to look for a new or used vehicle, here are some questions you should drop from your list and what you should ask instead.

Remember that the car could have several previous owners who all took good care of it, or several owners who didn't do any maintenance. But the car dealer might ask you why this question is relevant since it does not answer the concern directly. 

Ask instead: "What do you know about the car's history?"

The car's history is a much better indication of the type of vehicle you're getting. This can be particularly important if the car has been in an accident previously, as you may need to ensure the car was fixed properly. Asking questions as such can help you get ahead financially by not buying a vehicle that will not last you a while for your money. 

The dealership might not know if the car was serviced at a dealer before. And even if they do know, they will probably wonder how knowing this information can be helpful to you.

Ask instead: "What service records are available with this car?"

Service records are important because they can tell you if a previous owner kept up on necessary service and whether the work was done by a dealership or at another garage.

Dealers are unlikely to take a shine to your inquiry about whether the car has been languishing on the lot. They may view it as an attempt to get the car at a dirt-cheap price.

Ask instead: "Was this car ever wrecked or stolen?"

You might need to review a car more closely if it has been in an accident, so you can make sure repairs were done properly. A stolen vehicle should get more scrutiny, so you can make sure the title is clean before you purchase it.

A prickly question like this is sure to raise the dealer's hackles. Lemon laws protect you in case a dealer tries to sell you a faulty car or one with undisclosed issues. But a dealer is not likely to take kindly to a question that sounds more like an accusation.

Ask instead: "Do you know of any current issues with this car?"

This is a friendlier way to get information about the true state of the car. Asking for details about specific current issues can help you and the dealer focus on problems and potential fixes.

Simply asking this question point-blank is unlikely to elicit the best results. It may even put the dealer on the defensive. Negotiation is a delicate dance, so it's better to be a little less blunt.

Ask instead: "What incentives come with this car?"

Asking this question takes some of the negotiating off the table, making it easier for you to focus on specific incentives that are simply an expected part of the deal. Check websites such as Edmunds to find the latest incentives for vehicles to help narrow options. 

You may think buying a car that was driven on Wisconsin's salty winter roads is worse than choosing a car bathed in California sunshine. But dealers know that cars face challenges wherever they are driven. 

Ask instead: "How many miles are on the car?"

A better indicator of what a car has been through is the everyday wear and tear it experiences mile after mile. A car with fewer miles, especially if it's been well-maintained, is often a better choice than a vehicle with lots of miles on the odometer.

Asking whether a car was inspected won't tell you much about the actual condition of the car, and it might just annoy the dealer.

Ask instead: "Is it a certified pre-owned vehicle?"

A certified pre-owned vehicle is a car that's probably coming off a lease. That means it should have fewer miles and fewer years on it than many used cars. It also means the dealership has inspected the vehicle and might give you extra coverage on the car, including warranties.

There are plenty of important questions you should ask when buying a new vehicle, so make sure you're focused on questions that will get you the best answers.

And remember to continue to ask good questions long after you drive the car off the dealer lot. For example, comparing quotes from various insurers and asking them the right questions can help you save money on car insurance.