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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Autobytel.com service really free?
YES!
There is no charge to you, the consumer, to use the Autobytel.com service. There are no fees for you to pay, whether you buy/lease your new vehicle through us or not. There are no clubs to join, either.

Do I pay more for my new vehicle because Autobytel.com is free?
Autobytel.com exists to help you pay less for your new car. We are NOT a brokerage, so we don't charge our Subscribing Dealers on a per-car or per-customer basis. You will get pricing and delivery information up front, over the phone from the Subscribing Dealer in your area. We encourage you to compare this price to other dealers in your area. You'll find the price to be very competitive.

Am I obligated to purchase the vehicle I request from Autobytel.com?
Of course not. We operate on the Honor System -- there are really no strings attached to our program. We ask only that you DO NOT use Autobytel.com as a 'shopping service' to get pricing on multiple vehicles. This undermines the integrity of our program for dealers and other car buyers.

Can I lease a car through Autobytel.com?
Absolutely. Your Autobytel.com Dealer will offer competitive lease payments in the same manner that he provides competitive purchase prices. Additionally, Autobytel.com is working with large financing institutions to offer low-cost online lease applications and approval. Low-cost Online Leasing will debut early 1997.

What about financing?
Autobytel.com's Subscribing Dealers will finance your new vehicle at low rates (on approved credit). Additionally, Autobytel.com is working with Chase Auto Finance to offer online financing and approval. This exclusive Internet relationship with Chase means most Autobytel.com customers will receive low-cost financing rates and online financing approval within minutes after entering an application. Low-cost Online Financing will debut early 1997.

May I request a price on more than one vehicle?
In order to maintain the integrity of our program and to keep dealer costs at a minimum, Autobytel.com asks that users submit requests for the one vehicle they are prepared to purchase.

I made a request through Autobytel.com recently and I haven't heard from a dealer. It's been over 48 hours -- what should I do?
Autobytel.com appreciates your business and will do everything in our power to process your request by your schedule. If you're ready to buy a new vehicle and haven't heard from a dealer, please send us an e-mail that includes your name, location and the type of car you've requested.

I'm getting ready to move and want to buy/lease near my new home. Can I make my Request for an Autobytel.com Dealer in another state?
Definitely. Just provide us with your NEW address in your Purchase Request and include a brief description of your plans in the 'comments' section. If you don't have your new address yet, your new ZIP CODE will do. We'll take care of the rest!

I don't live in the United States. Does the Autobytel.com program work internationally?
The Autobytel.com program is only available in the U.S. and Canada. At this time, Autobytel.com is not available in Guam and Puerto Rico.

Market Conditions Affect Price
Unusual market conditions (production delays, short supply, etc.) make certain models and vehicles tough to be discounted beyond a certain level, even for Autobytel.com customers.

Autobytel.com Subscribing Dealers recognize this fact. As part of the Autobytel.com Program, they will aggressively price the exotic, rare or short-run vehicle you want. In other words, they value your business and will price their vehicles as competitively as they can .

These are some of the vehicles we've found that fall into this category. While supplies of vehicles vary from state to state (and province to province), these vehicles are generally in short supply in most parts of North America. Still, Autobytel.com Subscribing Dealers will provide very competitive pricing on these vehicles:

BMW: M3, Z3
Chevrolet: Impala SS, Suburban, Tahoe
Chrysler: Sebring convertible, Town & Country LXI Minivan
Dodge: Grand Caravan LE
GMC: Suburban, Yukon
Honda: Entire Civic line is in very short supply
Land Rover: Discovery, Range Rover
Mercedes: E320
Mitsubishi: 3000 GT, Eclipse Spyder, all convertible models
Porsche: All models
Subaru: Outback
Toyota: Camry (V6), 4 Runner, Land Cruiser, RAV 4
Volkswagen: GTI

Models marked in italics are especially difficult to find in the northeastern United States.

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