Having your car used at home: is it possible?

It is an understatement to say that the world pandemic of COVVI-19 has turned up habits, in all the countries of the world, France making no exception.

With confinements, the implementation of barrier measures, social distancing, home delivery exploded and even the sale of car has taken a very different face from that it had before March 2020.

In the end until then, the attempts of car manufacturers to digitize the purchasing course, to make it virtual, resulted very quickly.And today, most manufacturers offer a purchasing course that can take place 100 % from its sofa.With a delivery to your home.How many customers do this, that is more difficult to know...

Is it good ?Is it bad (we always said that buying a car without trying it was more than risky))?It is in any case a reality.At least for new cars.

But what about second-hand cars?Not to mention it to buy it online (which is becoming more and more possible is also a fact)), is it at least possible to limit travel, and therefore contacts, by being delivered at home?

Yes, having your opportunity delivered is possible, and more and more easily

Let us spare no suspense here: the answer is yes.It's possible.Not everywhere, not all the time, but this new service is constantly expanding, and more and more signs, whether it is large concessions, multi -brand importers of importance, national networks of used specialists,or even smaller signs, start.

It must be said that the second -hand market is, by far, more dynamic than that of the new.It would therefore be a shame for those who are the specialists, to "miss the turn" of contactless, without travel.

The observation is therefore final.Two years ago, on a specialized site like that of the Central, no professional seller offered (with some exceptions)) home delivery for its used models.

Today, out of almost 300,000 online announcements at a time when these lines are written, 15 % of professional sellers offer a delivery service, or more than 45,000 cars that are likely to be delivered directlyat the customer.

Some networks, such as "Autohero", even make it a commercial argument, and focus all their advertisement around that.You know, these used cars that we give you by means of a small tray truck whose walls are transparent, to be able to see the car that is inside?And in addition, with them, delivery is free (at least included in the price displayed)) whatever the distance.

The Carnext network also communicates a lot on this new service, like Autosphere, Aramis Auto, Reezocar, Carventura or Spoticar, the used label of the Stellantis group.And many of those who do not particularly communicate on this service also offer it so, such as many groups of dealers (Gueudet, Neubauer, etc..)).The central site also signals, for each ad, if the vehicle is available.

But concretely, what are the advantages and disadvantages of home delivery?

The advantages of home delivery

Limit travel

If we always recommend you in the world to move at least once to try the car and be sure that it will suit you, then make it deliver additional trips to you.

This reduces interactions, the number of people in concession or in the professional of the professional.And currently, it's rather a good thing.

Save on the journey

If the car coveted is far from your home, it also saves on the train ticket or on petrol/toll to get there, and not have to have half a day, or even aRTT or leave day and possibly mobilize a second person to accompany you if you go by car.But beware, this economy can fly to delivery costs (see paragraph disadvantages)).

Win time

As with the delivery of races or internet orders, having saved time, not mortgaging half a day or a working day, we have already mentioned it.In addition, all formalities are made in a dematerialized and rapid way.

The disadvantages of home delivery

The cost

This is of course the first disadvantages.Indeed, there are few brands that offer free delivery, even if it exists, (at Autohero as we have seen, but also with others, most often for vehicles already expensive at the base, delivery being insome sort of "included" in the price)).Suddenly, the economy achieved because you are not going to look for the car by yourself can quickly pass out.

Spoticar, for example, offers a basic package of € 119 delivery, for a distance of less than 50 km, beyond, it is billed according to the distance.And the car arrives "by road" with a complete grip offered to the customer, as in concession.Same concept for Autohero, without basic package, a car brought to the set, and not necessarily handling.

At Carnext, a different approach, with a € 199 package, whatever the distance traveled by the delivery man.At Aramis Auto, home delivery, is at the same price as agency delivery, or 178 €.

For many sellers, call is made to specialized carriers, with an always different rate, but calculated as accurately as possible when ordering.According to our estimates carried out on many cars, with mileage to travel different, we are on average 1 € per kilometers between the pro and at home.

But sometimes, prices for high -end cars, when delivery is not included, can climb up to almost € 1,000.Not nothing.

In this case, it is not profitable to choose home delivery.It is better to pay a train ticket to get your car, petrol and return toll, and even by posing a day off, it is cheaper.

You have to do a calculation for each special case.

Not always handling

If Spoticar ensures that the car will be the subject of explanations and a good handling, this is not the case for many models that will arrive by carriers.These are not sellers, and do not necessarily know the car.

When purchasing in concession or at a merchant, a presentation of the car is made quite systematically.Not there, which will force you to discover everything for yourself, especially if you have not carried out a first test on site, before home delivery.

Defects noticed later

By going to pick up the car at its place of sale and when you get home with your home, you can fairly quickly, even immediately, see faults, lights that light up.You can then, at best, turn around and signal the problems very quickly, or at worst only allow a few hours to pass.

With home delivery, and if you do not drive with the car until the next day or even later, these same faults, you will discover them later, and the seller can more easily make you take responsibility for it.Fortunately, many online purchase and home delivery offers include a possibility of "satisfied or reimbursed" (generally with a limit of 2 weeks and 500 to 1,000 km traveled maximum)).

The balance sheet

Yes, it is possible, with some professionals, to have your used car delivered to the entrance to your garage or your parking.This is not yet what is practiced, of course, but the service is increasingly offered.However, be careful, you shouldn't crack too quickly.On the one hand because it is not always financially interesting, on the contrary, on the other hand because the handling of the car remains easier with a professional in a pharmacy or a concession.Finally, we repeat, if having the car delivered is possible, in a second step, we always advise you to make a first trip in situ, to try "in real" the car ".