Costco Car Buying Program vs TrueCar: Comparing Costco Auto Program and TrueCar, it is evident that both programs offer great benefits to car buyers. However, in order to choose the best program for your needs, it is important to understand the specific benefits and features of each program. One needs to consider the selection of cars available, as well as the pricing and warranty options.
Costco Auto Program vs TrueCar
If you are a Costco member, the Costco Auto Program is your best bet for buying a car. Costco makes it easy for you with great prices and a smooth buying process.
f you are not a Costco member, you may want to consider signing up, as the program typically offers better pricing options and a more streamlined process.
As of now (2022), only Costco members are eligible for the program.
As Costco’s Car Buying Program requires that you become a member of the warehouse club, it may not be the best option for people who are not already Costco members.
To those people, TrueCar may be a better choice as it does not require membership.
Moreover, Costco’s Car Buying Program offers a limited selection of dealerships and vehicles. If you are looking for a more extensive selection, TrueCar is the better option.
Pricing
In terms of pricing transparency, TrueCar is the clear winner. Costco’s prices aren’t transparent until you reach out to a dealer, but they often offer better deals than those offered by TrueCar.
So, if you’re looking for the most transparent pricing, TrueCar is the best option. However, if you’re looking for the best deal possible, Costco might be a better choice.
Here, the comparison is a little more complicated. In this case, it might be worth contacting dealers directly to see if they can beat the price offered by Costco.
Price negotiation is always tricky, so it’s important to do your research before making any decisions.
As Costco Auto Program and TrueCar are both reputable services, you can be confident that you’re getting a good deal either way.
But, it’s always worth shopping around to see if you can find an even better price.
When comparing the cost of a new car with the cost of a used car, remember to factor in depreciation, maintenance, and other associated costs.
Here comes the advantage of using a car buying program.
Costco and TrueCar will give you a competitive quote for a new car, which may be lower than the dealer’s asking price.
However, you may be able to get an even better deal by negotiating with the dealer directly.
Keep in mind that the dealer will likely have some wiggle room when it comes to the final price, so don’t be afraid to ask for a discount.
Winner: Costco
Warranty/Coverage
One downside of using the Costco Auto Program or TrueCar is that neither company offers warranties or extended coverage for your purchase.
As this is the case with both companies, get to know the warranties and coverage that the dealership selling the car offers.
In most cases, the car manufacturer comes up with a warranty and the dealership offers additional or extended coverage.
So, the comparison between Costco Auto Program and TrueCar in terms of warranty and coverage availability is a tie.
As both companies don’t offer warranties or extended coverage, the burden falls on you to research what the dealership offers and deal with them directly.
Winner: Tie
Overall Process
Costco’s car-buying program is a membership service that lets dealers access Costco’s customer base.
Basically, the whole process is pre-negotiated, so customers can buy at a set price.
Costco charges a small fee to the dealers in order to be a part of this program, and in return, they gain access to Costco’s customers.
Then, dealers who’ve become a part of Costco’s program can offer pre-negotiated prices on new cars to Costco members.
So, for example, if you’re a Costco member and you’re looking to buy a new car, you can go through the program and get a set price that the dealer has agreed to with Costco.
This way, you don’t have to worry about haggling or negotiating yourself – you can just buy your car at a set price.
On the other hand, TrueCar makes the process of car buying easier.
It takes the average of all dealers in your area, so you can compare prices and find the best deal.
Plus, TrueCar receives a commission from every purchase, so it has an incentive to get you the best deal possible.
When you pick an offer you like, TrueCar gets you in touch with the dealership in order to start the buying process.
Winner: TrueCar
Vehicles & Dealerships
The main difference between TrueCar and Costco Auto Program is that TrueCar is good in terms of its dealership network.
It has over 15,000 dealerships, while Costco has around 3,000 dealerships under its network in the country.
So, clearly, if you are looking for a specific certified dealership, TrueCar is your best bet.
In terms of vehicles, TrueCar wins the comparison again.
Because, you’ll find both new and used cars showcased on TrueCar, while Costco showcases only models that are within the last two years.
So, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive selection of cars, TrueCar is the better option.
However, if you are only interested in models that are within the last two years, Costco Auto Program would be a better choice.
Winner: TrueCar
Costco Auto Program vs TrueCar: Which is best?
The main difference between Costco Auto Program and TrueCar is that the former is not a specialist in car sales, while the latter is. However, both programs have their pros and cons, so it is important to compare them before making a decision. Costco’s car-buying program helps you get a better priced deal whereas TrueCar has a wide selection of vehicles and certified dealerships to choose.