Should You Buy Used Cars From Dealers or Individuals?

When it comes to making a purchase of used cars, you'll find a variety of places and people to buy from. Should you buy the vehicle sitting on the side of the street in front of someone's home? Should you go to the small dealership in the center of town or the big one? There are many options to consider. Before any transaction take place, you need to know what all of your options are, including which ones are going to provide you with the best long-term benefits.

Buying Off the Street

There is a level of added risk when you buy used cars off the street. You definitely will be getting the unknown. However, you still have the same rights and responsibilities as you would if you were buying in a dealership. For example, you can ask (and should ensure) that you have a mechanic look over the vehicle before purchasing it. That's a good way of learning if the vehicle is worthy of your investment.

When you buy off the street, you can expect to pay more or less than the vehicle's worth. In other words, you have to do your homework to make sure the vehicle is priced properly. You also need to factor in the need to pay in cash. Most often, you cannot purchase these cars with a loan. That makes them harder to finance in some instances.

Buying From a Dealer

The other option is to buy from a autoankauf dealership. This could be a good option because you have more to select from and you can select in-house or local financing. You may even be able to secure a national lender to purchase the vehicle. It also provides you with more opportunity to protect your investment. Some companies offer inexpensive warranties that allow you to return the vehicle for repairs or other concerns if there is a problem with it.

The drawback to buying from some dealers is limited negotiating. You'll be able to negotiating with these dealers, but you may not get as big of a deal as you may with a local person selling his or her car. At the same time, though, you can still qualify for better loans and incentives not available through an individual.

Which one is the right choice? The security in buying used cars from dealers is a big factor to consider. Unless you are very confident in your ability to spot a great car on the side of the road, it's best to stick to these organizations when purchasing an automobile as long as they have what you are looking for.