Buying and Selling Your Vehicle Safely—How Contactless Car Deals Work

"Unprecedented times." "The new normal." "Physical distancing." Everyone is tired of talking about how COVID-19 has changed the way the world works. It’s true though—everything has changed, from buying toothpaste to dropping kids off at daycare to buying a car.

Ah, yes. The car dealership. If you need to replace your vehicle, the coronavirus pandemic has changed how you do that, too. The traditional method of shopping for a car is anything but physical-distancing-friendly.

You won't be walking around cars, and touching buttons is nearly taboo.

Today, there are no handshakes in the showroom. You won't be walking around cars, and touching buttons is nearly taboo. And forget about taking a test drive without all the touchpoints being wiped down before and after. The way Americans are used to buying cars does not translate well to our new normal during the pandemic.

However, both manufacturers and car dealers have implemented contactless methods to safely shop for cars. Volvo has always been a safety-centric carmaker, and their contactless car-buying methods are among the best in the business. Now, more than four months after the pandemic shut down the United States, almost all dealerships have followed suit and developed plans for digital retailing and contactless sales.

Wondering how it works? Here’s a walkthrough of what contactless car purchasing looks like.

The Product Demo

If you're buying a new car while the coronavirus is still going strong, it's probably because you need one, not because you just want a change. Nevertheless, your new car has to be equipped with the features you need, and it certainly doesn’t hurt if you love the way it looks. How do you do that without climbing into the car and pawing at all the handles, buttons, and switches?

Virtual

If you’re comfortable with a computer or phone screen, you can virtually explore the car. A few carmakers have walkarounds available on their website to demonstrate the vehicle, zoom in and out on features, and see what your new car could look like.

Dealers have even more tools at their disposal. Salespeople can walk you through a car’s options using FaceTime or video chat while you’re in the comfort of your home. And where carmakers can only do product demos for new cars, a salesperson can show you around and through a used car too.

In-Person

With contactless car sales, in-person product demos are still possible. You’re trying to avoid cross-contact with someone who could be sick...

Keep reading on Quick and Dirty Tips