Buying a vehicle from the public might be an attractive option if you’ve found a great deal. It’s also an option if the only person to have a particular model you want is a private seller. However, buying a car from a private source has its fair share of risks. Even if the owner seems nice and has the best intentions in the world, there are plenty of things that can go wrong. Buying a vehicle is a serious expense, so you can’t afford to make a mistake that could end up costing you thousands in the end. Here are some of the potential risks related with buying a used vehicle from a private seller.
Murky History
In many cases, private sellers will not have as clear a history on the vehicle as a dealership. Also, dealerships are less likely to buy problem vehicles themselves. Some sellers just beat up their vehicles, and might have no idea how to take care of them.
So, while on the surface everything may look okay, you just never know what may happen. This is why it’s often a better option to go with a dealership, and this is especially the case for luxury cars. One small issue could end up you costing you a lot of money, and knowing the full history of a vehicle will allow you to avoid issues and prepare for potential issues that may arise.
No Customer Protection
Private sellers usually won’t give you any type of protection, and they aren’t obligated to do so. Dealers, on the other hand, have certain laws they have to abide by to make sure that they don’t sell you a defective vehicle without your knowledge. Also, they might add some additional perks that private sellers won’t be able to. Not only that, but reputable dealers actually have a reputation to protect, whereas private sellers don’t have to worry about selling you a bad car.
Transfer is More Complicated
When buying a car from a private seller, the whole process is much more complicated. You’ll often have to go fill in the paperwork in person at the office, and you may never know which issue may pop up. For instance, someone may have a lien on the vehicle, in which case the sale wouldn’t be able to go through. With a dealership, everything will usually be done right there and you’ll be able to leave with your vehicle.
It’s a Hassle
Buying a car from a private seller is a lot of trouble. You have to go through tons of listings, go see a bunch of cars, and will often come across a ton of duds before you find something you like. Then you have to work out things like scheduling inspections, and sellers flaking out at the last minute. None of this would happen if you worked with a dealership.
Buying a car from a private seller might seem like a good idea in some cases, but make sure that you know everything that it involves. You could end up with more trouble than you expected, or get flat out swindled, so keep your wits about you.
