Complete Car-Buying Guide

We sell cars every day. We know the process and we know our vehicles. So we put together this guide to help make your car-buying experience a smooth one.

“I want/need to find a car. “

Our website  is exactly where you need to be. It has the most up to date and accurate listings of our inventory. The website almost immediately updates when a vehicle has been sold or when a new vehicle is added to the inventory.

“I have questions about history, options, pictures etc.”

All our listings have a large number of photos, a CARFAX and a window sticker. Many have a walk-around video as well as a small blurb about the vehicle.

Have additional questions? Please reach us at 781-575-0004 and a team member will assist you.

“I found a car and want to come in for a test drive.”

We strongly recommend you make an appointment. Reason is that we want to make sure the vehicle is available, and a team member is ready to assist you.

In the winter, an appointment is especially necessary so that the car is clean of snow and is nice and warm for you to enjoy the test drive. Walk-ins are accepted; however, we cannot guarantee prompt attention and the availability of the vehicle at the time.

To make an appointment, please call us at 781-575-0004. If you are not available within business hours, please call us so that we can try and accommodate an alternate appointment time.

Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm (last appt 5pm)
Saturday 10am-5pm (last appt 4pm)
Sunday CLOSED

You may also inquire through our website by sending a message from the Contact Us tab. (*Please note that by sending us a message, you consent to us contacting you via email and/or text.) You will receive a confirmation text and/or email on the day you make the appointment and on the day of.

Please come on time so that we can give you all of our attention. If your plans change and you cannot make your appointment, we completely understand. We just ask that you give us a call to let us know.

If you plan to test drive the vehicle:

  • Please make sure you have a valid US driver’s license. Without it, you will not be able to drive the car.
  • You must be at least 21 years old to test drive a vehicle. If you are under 21, please come with someone older who can accompany you. Or if you let us know in advance, we can have one of our associates accompany you on the test drive.
  • Please have your insurance information on hand. If you do not have an insurance policy, please ask an associate for a recommendation!
  • If you have a trade-in vehicle, please make sure to come in that vehicle. Bring with you the title, or if you still have a loan on the trade, the bank information.
  • If your trade-in is not drivable, please refer to the trade-in section below for information. 

“I love the car and want to pay in full.”

Great! We accept the following forms of payment:

  • Cash (SSN required for amounts over $10,000)
  • Certified bank check
  • Personal check (check must clear before vehicle can be picked up.)
  • Wire transfer

*Certified bank checks, wire transfers or cash are preferred. 

We also accept credit card payments for deposits and down payments only:

  • Up to $3,000 – no fee.
  • After $3,000, there is a 3% processing fee that you are responsible for.

“I love the car and would like to finance.”

Great! We work with a collection of banks and credit unions and will try and accommodate different credit needs.

Financing under your name – please bring everything requested for the test-drive (as mentioned above) as well as the following:

  • Two of your most recent pay stubs
  • Proof of residence (if your address is different than your driver’s license)
  • Social security number

Financing under a business name – please call us so that we can better understand your situation and provide you with the most accurate information.

Financing with your own bank – please bring a pre-approval letter in paper or electronic form as well as the bank’s lien information.

  • Please ask the bank what they need from us before you come in so that we can make sure to get the loan secured as efficiently as possible. We want to help you avoid any unnecessary back and forth!

Important to keep in mind:

  • Interest rates and payments are determined by your credit score, the vehicle, and your down payment. We are not able to determine payments or rates until we have an approval from the bank.
  • Our banks have a credit score cutoff. If your score does not meet the limit, we would recommend working with your own bank. If you have outstanding circumstances, give us a call so we can try to give you the best recommendations for purchasing.

“I want to leave with the vehicle the same day.”

It is extremely important that you let us know in advance if you plan to leave in the vehicle the same day. Every deal is different, and some require more time, but we will do our best to make it happen. If it is possible in your situation, we will let you know right away. So please call us and let us know in advance!

We do not like to rush this process, because we want to make sure you get the highest quality of service – from your test drive, to signing of the paperwork, to the vehicle being serviced and registered, and everything in between.

Once the funds are received, your insurance is active, license plates are ready, our service team has looked over your vehicle, and we have all the necessary trade-in information (if applicable,) you will be ready to go!

Please note: If you finance and the bank approved you with stipulations, we need to make sure those stipulations are cleared before you can pick up the vehicle.

“Ok, but I really want to see this vehicle and I’ve had vehicles sold out from underneath me. Can I leave a deposit to hold it?”

We’re sorry to hear that you’ve experienced that, and we assure you that here at Done Deal Motors, we do not do surprises. If a vehicle sells before your scheduled appointment, we absolutely make sure to call you and let you know.

Unfortunately, we do not accept a deposit to hold a vehicle for viewing purposes. We will accept a deposit only when you are 100% sure about making the purchase, and it is just a matter of finalizing the paperwork.

Our standard deposit is $1,000 (unless otherwise agreed upon.) Please note that this deposit is non-refundable on vans and commercial vehicles.

We always recommend calling us with any questions, concerns, or requests.

“I’m far away and/or would like to see about purchasing this vehicle over the phone.”

Not a problem! We sell cars all around the country, and sometimes the world. Our team is well-versed in national sales, so please call us at 781-575-0004 and speak to an associate.

We provide 60+ pictures from different angles and distances, so please make sure to look at all of them. We can also provide a video or a video chat walk-around if you want to see details not covered in our online listing. If you have additional questions, please contact us directly.

“Can you ship/deliver my vehicle?”

Absolutely!

Some external advertising websites will provide you with shipping costs; however, they are not always accurate. We use a third-party shipping service, and the cost varies depending on the zip code and other variables. Please contact us directly for a quote.

“What should I expect when I come to pick up the car?”

On the day of pickup, your vehicle will be fully serviced and have premium fuel.

Our service department thoroughly checks all our vehicles when they first arrive as well as before they leave. They check the brakes, all fluids, electrical components, tires, all safety features as well as perform oil changes. We guarantee that your vehicle will pass MA state inspection.

“Can you register plates?”

Yes, but only if your vehicle will be registered in Massachusetts.

We are certified to register new plates as well as transfer your current ones. At this time, we are able to register new passenger, commercial and livery plates.

If your vehicle needs pupil plates or other new special plate registration, you will need to go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

For out-of-state plates, you are responsible for registering those yourself as well as for any applicable taxes and fees in that state. Out-of-state registrations have no obligation to pay Massachusetts sales tax.

Massachusetts does not issue temporary plates to transport vehicles across state lines. Please ask the sales associate you worked with to give you all available options.

“Do you do state vehicle inspections?”

For transparency reasons, we do not. You will have seven days from the day you pick up your vehicle to get it inspected.

“I have a trade-in.”

Awesome! We take nearly all trade-ins! In order for us to get you the best possible value for your trade-in, we will need to see your vehicle in person.

If you DO NOT have a loan on your trade-in, please bring the title for that vehicle with you. If you don’t have your title, we can arrange for a duplicate for a $25 fee.

If you DO have a loan on your trade-in, please bring with you the bank information, your account number, and the amount you owe.

If you would like to transfer license plates from another vehicle, please bring those plates with you. You do not have to trade in that vehicle or bring it with you.

If your trade-in is not drivable, you will need to find a way to get the vehicle towed to our lot.

Bonus Tip: Benefit of trading in your old vehicle is that you will save $$$ on sales tax! For example, if the car you are buying is $20,000 and your trade-in is worth $15,000, you will only have to pay sales tax on the difference. In other words, instead of paying sales tax on $20,000, you would only pay it on $5,000!

“I want to do a pre-purchase inspection.” 

We allow pre-purchase inspections if they are within a 10-mile radius from our dealership. Please speak with your sales associate before planning the inspection with your mechanic.

There is a $100 insurance/safety deposit on vehicles that have a pre-purchase inspection. For specifics about the terms and conditions of this deposit, please call us directly to speak to an associate.

If you would like to bring your mechanic with you, or if they want to come to us to perform an onsite inspection, let your sales associate know in advance, so that we can arrange for an open lift.

“What about warranties, service contracts, and GAP insurance?”

All our vehicles come with a Massachusetts Lemon Law warranty which is dependent on the mileage of the vehicle. This warranty comes at no additional cost to you.

  • Vehicles with 0-40,000 miles get 90 days or 3,750 miles of coverage, whichever comes first.
  • Vehicles with 40,000-79,999 miles get 60 days or 2,500 miles of coverage, whichever comes first.
  • Vehicles with 79,999-124,999 miles get 30 days or 1,250 miles of coverage, whichever comes first.
  • Vehicles with over 125,000 miles come with no warranty beyond the guarantee that they will pass the state vehicle inspection within seven days from pick up.

For more information on Lemon Law warranty coverages, please speak with your sales associate.

Service contracts and GAP insurance are also available! The cost depends on the vehicle and the coverage plan, so if you are interested in purchasing extra protection for your vehicle/purchase, please ask your sales associate for details. 

“What are these extra fees and why do you have them?”

There is a $495 documentation fee that is required on every purchase. This fee covers the paperwork you sign, secure storage of your documents and information for seven years (required by the state of Massachusetts) as well as all back-office expenses. We have no other fees, and definitely no hidden fees!

Keep in mind, you are responsible for state taxes, title and registration fees. These vary by state.

  • Massachusetts sales tax is 6.25%.
  • Title fee is $75.
  • Registration fee for transferred plates is $25. The fee for new plate registrations varies by month and is prorated.

 

If you made it this far in our Guide, THANK YOU for taking the time to read it! Below are just a few additional things to keep in mind:

An open line of communication is key.

  • If you cannot make your appointment or are running late and need to cancel or reschedule, let us know.
  • If you are no longer interested in a vehicle, just keep us in the loop. No hard feelings!
  • If you do not understand something during the process, ask us. We are happy to help!
  • If you are not happy with something, please let us know directly so we try to rectify the situation.
  • If you are happy with your experience, please share your feedback and leave reviews (DealerRater, Google, Yelp etc.) as that is what keeps us going!

Car buying can be a lengthy process and although we strive to make it as fast, easy, and comfortable as possible, please allow yourself enough time to ensure everything is taken care of during your visit with us.

If you want a relative, friend, co-worker, dog, cat, fish, etc. (we don’t judge!) to be an extra pair of eyes to look over the vehicle, please bring them with you to your appointment. We cannot guarantee that the vehicle will be available if they just walk in, and we certainly don’t want to waste anyone’s time!

 

We are fortunate enough to love what we do, and we are always trying to help, so please work with us to make sure that this process goes as smoothly as possible! For any additional questions, please contact our team at 781-575-0004 and help US help YOU!

Done Deal Motors

Store Hours

Monday
10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM-5:00 PM
Sunday
Closed

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