There are tons of ways to buy a car, with more being added to the list every passing year. For instance, you can buy a car privately. You might use an entity like Craigslist. Is this your best path toward vehicle ownership, though, or should you add dealerships to the list of options?
Northside Fleet is ready for your business if you live close by and feel like buying a car from a dealership makes sense. That’s not for everyone, though. Let’s take a few moments to discuss the pros and cons of buying through a dealership and striking a deal with a private seller.
The Perks of Buying from a Private Seller
Often, the best perk when you buy from a private seller is that you can get a good deal on a used vehicle, or even an extraordinary one. You may look at online car-buying marketplaces and locate a car that seems like it will fit your needs perfectly. You may also see that it’s at a price point that’s incredibly reasonable.
There are also sometimes opportunities to purchase vehicles from private sellers that have aftermarket additions. That kind of car isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but some individuals love having a chance to buy something exotic. If that’s what you’re after, a private seller might be your best bet.
Why a Dealership Might Be the Better Option
As for dealerships, the most common reason why you’d want to buy from one rather than from a private seller is that everything will be on the books and there will be a paper trail. If you buy from a private seller, they may be able to sign the car’s title over to you, but you won’t have a reliable way of checking whether it’s theirs to sell.
Also, if you buy a vehicle from a dealership, you can get a warranty on it. Even if that’s only for 30 days, that’s still far better than no warranty at all. This way, there’s much less chance that your car will turn out to be a lemon.
Which One Should You Choose?
Virtually every person hunting for their perfect car will have a preferred method. Some might want the dealership option, but they’ll at least be willing to look into a private sale if a credible one comes their way.
However, you may want to approach the car-buying process mainly from the standpoint of personal safety. There are many other factors to consider, but if you try to buy a vehicle from a private seller, maybe they will want you to meet them somewhere remote with very few people around.
That should be of great concern to you. Even if you bring a friend, it is risky to try to buy a car from a private seller in a locale with nobody else nearby. By going to a dealership, you know you’re dealing with a credible entity that you can complain about to the authorities if they try anything underhanded.
