To buy a car, you need a few things:
-Money (yes, in most cases, you need to make a down payment. With money. You will also need that to make the payments you're signing dozens of documents about.)
-A Driver's License (not expired, not a learner's permit, not a passport, not your sibling's license.)
-Proof of Income (it may not be the best time to buy a car if you started your job two days ago.)
-Proof of Residence (saying "I'm crashing at my girlfriend's place" doesn't count.)
-Car Insurance (yes! You legally need this to drive. Including on the car you drove to get to the dealership to buy a new car. I hope you know that.)
-Patience (buying a car will take, at minimum, a few hours. I recommend that you don't bring your hungry children along, nor schedule an appointment with us when you have a critical appointment to get your hair done an hour later.)
A few more tips, from lived experience:
-If you are going to call a dealership complaining about how your car is so broken that the mechanic refuses to fix it, make sure they're not a mechanic we know, so we can't call them and find out they kicked you out of their waiting room because you were drinking a pint of vodka in it.
-If you are currently involuntarily admitted to a medical facility with your possessions, including your identification material, confiscated, it may not be the opportune time to purchase a vehicle over the phone.
-"Approved" does not mean "you get a free car."
-If you don't have a job and your credit score is in the 400s, you probably won't be able to drive off the lot in a 4x4 AWD SUV with sub 50 mileage. No, this is not "discrimination you can sue us for."
-If you apply for an auto loan and are approved, the dealership will try to contact you to try to sell you a car. If you don't wish for that to happen, you can simply say "I don't want to be contacted," or "I'm not interested." Picking up and pretending you're not who you say you are will not end the calls. Hanging up will not end the calls. Calling the salesperson contacting you to set up an appointment a "fucking annoying piece of shit" will not end the calls. If you feel the need to do this, consider not applying for an auto loan in the first place.
-"Trust me, I'm good for it" is not a valid proof of income.
-Making a fake paystub in google sheets is not a valid proof of income. We will also blacklist you. And possibly report you to the state.
-If you are going to drive 6 hours across state lines to purchase a high-end vehicle you saw online, it is a good idea to call the dealership beforehand. It's also a good idea to make sure you know what your terms on that vehicle are. It's also a good idea to have money to purchase the vehicle.
And above all:
-Salespeople are people too. My job is to figure out what vehicle you want, what's viable for you, collect your information, and do the best I can to get you into the vehicle you want. If you are patient and friendly, I will go to bat for you to secure you good terms and make sure your application doesn't get suspended. If you are not, I will do my best to get you out of the dealership as quickly as I can, with or without a car. My hours are long, my job is stressful, and my pay isn't that great for all that I have to learn, remember, execute, and solve for your sake. This interaction is a two-way path, and if you make it easier for me, I'll make it easier for you.
Also, I take notes on every customer who sits at my desk.