Buying a Commercial Vehicle in the Age of COVID-19

Even as the nation has reopened following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health and government officials are urgently asking Americans to maintain precautions to slow the spread of the virus. Wearing a mask and keeping six feet of distance from others is simple enough, but how has coronavirus impacted the process of shopping for and buying trucks?

Here are six tips for buying commercial vehicles in the age of COVID-19:

1. Know Your Shopping Options

As you look to purchase a commercial vehicle, it’s important to know how you can safely obtain information about available units. One option is to go to the physical dealership lot and hope that they provide a safe, socially distant shopping experience. However, the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a huge spike in online research, and dealers have responded accordingly.

More than ever, it’s easy to quickly browse trucks and vans on dealership websites and on third-party marketplace websites like CommercialTruckTrader.com. Online marketplaces give you the widest selection of vehicles from which to choose, while providing the safest method of purchase research.

2. Do Your Research

The most important step in buying any commercial vehicle is to find out as much as you can. This helps you determine if the truck is the right purchase for you. The main aspects of inquiry can all be safely completed online:

• Learn about the truck or van’s details, from its structural components to the mileage, via the unit’s online listing photos and description.
• Learn the vehicle history, including use, maintenance, repair, and accident history by simply asking the dealer and by searching through public records using the vehicle’s VIN.
• Research the owner/dealer through online background checks and by asking around with your industry contacts.
• Compare listings. Just because you’ve found one unit that could be a good fit doesn’t mean there’s not a better deal or more relevant vehicle out there. Be sure to fully research local dealership websites and leading online marketplaces.

3. Communicate with the Seller

Once you’re interested in a unit, you don’t have to immediately visit a dealership. Instead, you can safely reach out to the seller by phone call, email, text, or live chat (depending on what contact options they offer). Don’t hesitate to request more photos, seek out additional details, ask questions, talk financing, negotiate price, or communicate about anything else you think is important.

4. Inspect the Unit

You may think that inspecting a vehicle must be done in person, but live video inspections have become increasingly popular during coronavirus. A live digital appointment with a dealer satisfies many of the goals of a traditional appointment, including viewing the unit and its parts in real time, observing unit functionality, asking any relevant questions, and hearing the dealer’s sales pitch.

When setting up a live video chat, confirm certain details with the dealer, such as the exact date and time for the live video chat and which video app or feature you’ll use to communicate. Popular video chat options include Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Facebook Messenger Video Chat.

When conducting a live video inspection, we recommend that you: Ask to hear the running engine; have the dealer show the mileage; request to see unique specs or any damage; have the dealer point the camera to any specific part you want to see, and inspect anything else you would usually observe face-to-face.

5. Conduct a Test Drive

Okay, if you want to do a test-drive, this particular step does have to be done in-person. However, there are still steps you and the dealer can take to make test drives safer in light of the pandemic.

First, instead of just showing up at a dealership, schedule an appointment. This helps dealers manage how many people are in the dealership at once. Second, request that the dealer have the vehicle sanitized and ready to go, with the keys already in the ignition, so that you and the dealer can maintain social distancing. Third, consider bringing along a cleaning wipe to sanitize the steering wheel and gearshift yourself before touching them.

Wear your mask and have some hand sanitizer with you so you can immediately wash your hands after the test-drive.

6. Make the Purchase

During the "Age of COVID-19," it’s likely a dealership will allow you to begin the purchase process digitally. Many dealers have offered solutions like providing online financing resources on their website or accepting purchase deposits online or over the phone. Depending on state laws, the dealer may even be able to finalize the sale and sign over the vehicle to you through their website as well.

Some dealers are also offering expanded delivery services where they will bring a purchased truck or van directly to your home, business, or jobsite. If you do need to sign documents or pick up the vehicle at the physical dealership, we again recommend that you help the dealer manage how many people are in the dealership by calling ahead to schedule an appointment. And as always, don’t forget to wear your mask!