If you started at a manufacturer’s website, most will offer to share your contact details with a dealership. Many independent automotive websites will do the same. (Most of these types of sites have contracts or collect a fee from the dealership for providing them with this information.)
If you ask for the introduction, someone from the dealership’s internet sales department will reach out to you, usually via email first and sometimes a phone call. Alternatively, you can contact nearby dealerships directly through their websites. When emailing the dealership, tell them exactly what you’re looking for and ask for a price. Visit my article on “How to Negotiate with a Car Dealership by Email” to see examples, or even use my car dealership email templates.
Don’t forget that you can also research dealerships, before you visit them, online. Read reviews to learn what other car buyers thought of them, but please keep in mind that not everyone is unbiased!
Don’t forget the test drive!
I would never tell you to buy a car without first “trying it on for size.” I mean, you wouldn’t buy a pair of pants before you tried them on, would you? You will still need to visit the dealership before finalizing the deal. You will want to sit in the car, see how it looks, feels, smells, and most importantly, how it drives. If you’re buying a used car.
Check out my article “The Correct Way to Test Drive a Used Car” for tips and tricks on how to correctly test drive a preowned vehicle and make sure you don’t get stuck with somebody else’s problems.
As with doing your research, don’t just walk into a showroom and ask for a test drive. This is exactly what they are hoping you will do. They’re unlikely to have the exact car you want available and they’ll probably keep you waiting while they try to sell you a car you don’t want. This is also the time they’ll use to give you their sales pitch!
Instead, use the massive power of the modern internet. After you’ve done your research online. Email them asking to schedule a test drive of a specific vehicle. Dealerships prefer this because it lets them use their time more efficiently.
After your test drive, don’t start negotiating. Say you need to think about it and leave. Then, if you’re sure it’s the car for you, email to say you’re ready to buy. They may ask you to call in but many dealerships will bring the car and paperwork to your home or office.