Should You Buy Your Used Car From a Car Dealership?

So you’re in the market for a used car. There are several ways to get a used car, including buying from a private party, buying from an auction, and buying from a car dealership. What’s the best way to find a used car that is reliable and doesn’t break your budget? Let’s talk about the pros and cons of the most common ways to buy a used car: private parties or dealerships.

Pros and Cons of Buying From a Private Party vs. Car Dealership

The first thing to know when you buy a vehicle from a private party is that you will generally need to have a full cash payment. You won’t be able to write a check, and you may have a difficult time getting financing for a private party sale. So, the private party sale is most ideal when you have the cash upfront to pay for a used car.

The next thing you need to know is that you will have to do the full legwork yourself in locating the car and having it checked out by a mechanic. You’re buying the car as-is from the private seller. If you need a quick and cheap purchase and you have enough mechanical skill to avoid a lemon, this still might work.

But not everyone has time to spend locating the right used car and then taking it to a mechanic.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Car From a Car Dealership

Why should you buy a used car from a dealership? One of the main reasons is simply convenience. When you visit a reputable dealership, you often get to pick from a wide selection of pre-owned cars, and many of the cars may be certified pre-owned, which means they have been thoroughly checked out and may come with additional warranty coverage.

The other reason to buy from a dealership is if you need financing. Finding financing for a used car can be difficult when you do it on your own. But, a dealership has an entire financing department that knows how to get loans for any vehicle and different types of customers. This is especially true if you’re buying a used car that’s only a few years old.

Instead of driving all over your area to meet with different private sellers, you can visit a dealership or two that may be right next to each other and get a huge selection to choose from.

Why Buy Used?

Buying used tends to be a great way to save money when you need a new car. Even if you buy a used car that’s only a few years old, you’ll be saving $1,000s over new in most cases. There’s no doubt that the easiest way to buy used is from a dealership.

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have a lot of time to track down private sellers and do all of your own research to make sure you’re not buying a lemon. Visit your local dealership for an easier way to buy used cars.