The Top 5 Car Dealerships In Houston

First off, we like that their website is easy to navigate, and the contact information is right on the home page. The website even offers an instant Kelly Blue Book cash offer quote for people who want to sell or trade-in their car. 

We also liked the option to shop by car model on their website. The website broke down the specifics of each car model along with a quoted price. 

But what we liked most about Houston Auto Cars Sales is that they truly live up to their motto of valuing customers’ time. We were welcomed with warm smiles as we walked through the company doors and were not bombarded with sales statistics. 

We enjoyed the refreshing approach of all the salespeople here who didn’t try to deceive us into purchasing a car we didn’t want. 

Instead, the sales associate we dealt with was a pleasure to work with – no pressure-selling at all. He was also very knowledgeable about different car models. 

There was no pressure to drive the car around the city, and they had no problem with allowing a third-party inspection of the car model we were looking at. 

However, we are iffy about using the contact form on their online website. 

The response time wasn’t within the day. We didn’t receive an email or a phone call until the next day.  

In addition, the place is a little bit smaller than most car dealerships. So don’t expect high-class amenities.

We liked the clear website interface and design DriveTime has. It was easy for us to see if we were approved financing options for the cars they sell.

 DriveTime offered us a personalized payment plan that is very flexible. They also provide a car value tool to give you an idea of how much your car is worth before visiting the dealership.

However, we were skeptical of the pre-approval for credit financing on the website. Because when we visited the office in person, we learned the online pre-approval wasn’t going to count towards the final car sale. 

The sales representatives make a decision based on your credit score. 

But what stood out to us was the immense knowledge our sales representatives had and how they helped us figure out just the type of car we were looking for. 

We also liked the option they made available to us to use the trade-in car cost as the down payment towards a new car. We were allowed to take the car off the property for a test drive. 

Something we also did take of, by the way, was the customer service. They were friendly, and there was no pressure to make a purchase. 

They didn’t follow us around from car to car like other dealerships, but they were patient and often asked if we had any questions. We always appreciate that sort of delicacy from salespeople.

As always, we first checked out the website. To be honest, it is a little hard to read and not so easy on the eyes. The website design can be updated to be more user-friendly. 

However, the website does represent the small-town business that Auto Concepts is. We liked how you can get familiar with the staff on the website before going into the car dealership on site. 

It’s a very family-oriented business, which appealed to us. Car shopping is not easy, especially with kids, so we like how everyone on the staff was down-to-earth and very kind.

They catered to our needs. But what stood out to us the most was how flexible they are with credit scores. 

Credit scores play a big part in being approved for financing options, whether for cars or other purchases. So, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that they often accepted even those with low credit scores.

Their sales representatives can apparently work with you if you have bad credit, to help you get approved for a car that fits your needs. We talked to some clients and found a few who attested to the dealership’s people actually doing this.

However, due to the pandemic, there have been changes made to their operations: at the moment, it’s appointment-based and not walk-ins. This is something to remember if you’re thinking of checking out Auto Concepts.

A small thing, but it’s the first thing we noticed: their website is nicely night-mode friendly. We also like how they showcase their inventory of cars on it.

However, not everything on their website is great: some of the sections on it were blank. They also have a link to a YouTube channel, but they have no videos, so we found that a little weird.

But when we went in person, we found that the location was in a sketchy neighborhood, so we would recommend not going after dark. We also noticed that some cars available here have issues. 

That’s not entirely unexpected since the cars here are pre-owned. We recommend thoroughly checking their cars out before leaving, preferably with the help of a mechanic or a friend with good knowledge of autos. 

The mechanic here is informative, fortunately, and works with you to fix any issues you find in a chosen car. He certainly saw to our needs when we put him to the test. 

We also appreciate that the owner is friendly and has excellent customer service skills. He was able to help us compare different cars at a competitive price very quickly. 

All of the staff here are professional and also respectful of your time, which is one of our main criteria. We didn’t feel any pressure to purchase a car or make a definite decision immediately. 

At first glance, we thought this shop’s website to be user-friendly. However, when we clicked on some links, they didn’t work and we soon realized that the site needed a bit of maintenance.

As on other car dealership websites, you can browse through the different cars they advertise. But what stood out to us is the option to hold any car you find for 72 hours if you’re not able to purchase it. 

This is a great financing option that we saw other car dealerships don’t offer. But when we went to check them out in person, they were not very time-friendly, nor is the place a winner for cleanliness. 

On the day we went, the entire place even smelled of cigarettes. Also, many of the cars we noticed had paint peeling or scratches. 

We also didn’t like how long the financial process was to sign the registration papers. 

Nevertheless, there are still a lot of good points in their favor. For example, we did appreciate how friendly the sales representatives were and that they answered any questions we had.

The sales members didn’t pressure us into purchasing a car and made easy-going conversation with us. They also offer loan services, and they walk you through the process if you choose to apply. 

The kindness and professionalism shown to us did make up for the long wait times and other issues. They also have fairly good word of mouth, with a lot of clients vouching for them to us.