I’m a Car Sales Expert: These Are the 7 Worst Cities To Purchase a Car
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Buying a new car is a major financial decision that requires careful research and budgeting. The costs can vary significantly depending on where you live, with some cities being far more expensive than others.
To help you avoid overpaying and make the best decision, you should understand how where you buy a car affects the price. But regardless of where you choose to buy, you should always shop around and compare offers.
“It always pays to shop at multiple dealers and online,” said Lauren Fix, auto industry expert at The Car Coach. “Get quotes with ‘out the door prices’ in writing so you can allow other dealers to compete. Shopping around for the car, finance rates and insurance is your best bet.”
Below are seven cities car experts said to avoid purchasing a car in.
Also here are seven signs it’s time for you to buy a car.
West Palm Beach, Florida
While Florida is generally considered an affordable state for car purchases, West Palm Beach is an exception. The city’s high cost of living and affluent population have created a challenging market for budget-conscious buyers.
“The worst city to buy a car based on average prices is West Palm Beach, Florida,” Fix said. “The demand is higher as well as the average price.”
“West Palm Beach, Florida regularly tops lists as one of the most expensive cities to buy a used vehicle,” said Jason Farrell, certified master technician at Mechanic’s Diary. “Opting to look a little further north could save buyers thousands.”
Many dealerships in the area cater to wealthy residents and out-of-state buyers, driving up prices across the board.
New York City
Known for its exorbitant cost of living, New York City unsurprisingly ranks as one of the worst places to buy a car.
“Typically, high-population and dense cities with higher cost of living that also have strong public or pay-per-use transportation have higher car prices,” said Mark Beneke, owner of Westland Auto.
“The higher cost of living increases the amount a vehicle would go for, while the limited space makes a personal vehicle a luxury that decreases the supply and therefore increases the competition for what is available,” he said. “Not to mention that these types of cities also tend to have much higher taxes and registration, which add to the overall cost of a vehicle.”
San Francisco
For the same reasons, Beneke also warned against buying a car in San Francisco. The Bay Area’s notoriously high cost of living applies to car purchases as well. Another issue to consider is San Francisco’s limited and expensive parking, which discourages many residents from owning a car at all.
Chicago
Chicago is another dense city with a high cost of living. But the notoriously harsh winters also make it one of the worst places to buy a vehicle from a long-term cost perspective.
“Cities with harsh weather or high salt [or] humidity are brutal for vehicles and result in more wear and tear at a faster pace,” Beneke said about Chicago. “This affects their condition and increases the amount that you can expect to pay for maintenance costs. These would include areas that receive a lot of snow, beach [or] coastal towns or areas with a lot of rain and humidity.”
Road salt can cause accelerated rust and the cycle of freezing and thawing creates additional wear. So cars in Chicago tend to have higher maintenance expenses over the vehicle’s lifespan.
Seattle
The Pacific Northwest may be known for its natural beauty, but Seattle is also infamous for its high car prices. The city’s strong economy and high incomes create a demand for luxury vehicles, which dealers are all too happy to supply at a premium.
“Seattle has the fourth-highest rate of motor vehicle thefts per 1,000 residents in the country,” Fix said. “There is minimal mass transit and a car is critical to get to work, home and life [sic].”
Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s high demand for vehicles and competitive market conditions allow dealers to mark up prices accordingly. Tight parking situations and congestion further dissuade some residents from car ownership.
“Philadelphia has been a struggle for me to find reasonably priced, quality used cars for my mobile repair business over the years,” Farrell said. “Selection is slim and prices are sky-high compared to what I see in other nearby cities like Newark where there’s simply more competition between dealers.”
Santa Clarita, California
This Los Angeles suburb might seem like an affordable option compared to Los Angeles proper, but it still ranks as one of the worst cities for car buying. In Farrell’s experience, dealers here will do their best to take advantage of buyers who don’t shop around.
“While it may be auto heaven in terms of scenic test drives, Santa Clarita, California’s geographic isolation makes finding the right car at the right value tougher,” Farrell said. “Dealers can get away with less flexibility knowing buyers have fewer alternatives nearby. Expanding the search radius could be well worth it.”
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