Are you looking forward to buying a used car from someone at an affordable price, it is important to consider some necessary things before doing so as buying a used car from a private seller can be a little complicated and daunting.Â
It is no surprise that buying a car whether used or new comes with its thrills and you might be a lot eager to pay for one immediately and start enjoying the feeling that comes with owning a new car but you should also know that there are some pros and cons involved when purchasing a car especially a “used car”. It is essential that you know a few things to do when buying a used car from someone. Luckily a few tips will be discussed further to put you through a smooth and safer process and make things easier and less complicated for you.
The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Used Car
Pros Of Buying A Used Car From Someone
- Lower price:
The price is always the first thing a buyer considers when making a purchase. The advantage that comes with buying a used car from a private seller is being able to purchase it at a lower price as it comes with no extra dealership fees and other things to pay for.
- Time:
When buying from a private seller, it doesn’t take much time as the seller is only interested in a quicker sale and is more likely to welcome a negotiation and agreement on some terms, unlike a professional car dealer who is not in any rush to sell and the buyers can come in at any time. This is also an advantage for you as you would not want to spend so much time or go through so many processes when buying a car.
- Convenient:
It is much more convenient to find a private seller in your area as you can use some online or offline services, online communities and forums, referrals from close friends or neighbors, and Facebook marketplace to locate a private seller.
Cons Of Buying A Used Car From Someone
- No warranty:
In as much as the seller should provide accurate and well-detailed information about the car, you should know that buying a used car from a private seller might not come with a warranty or guarantee. This means the seller will not be held responsible for any problems or repairs after the sale.
- Might require more maintenance:
Because it is a used car, you are not sure of how the previous owner used it. Is not everyone good with maintaining a vehicle so buying a used car is like gambling. You might be lucky to get one that would not require so much maintenance and you might also be unlucky to get one that would.
Now that some of the pros and cons have been discussed above, it is also important that you know certain things to do when purchasing a used car to save yourself from going through a complicated process and instead have a smooth one.
What to do When Buying a Used Car From Someone
- Find a seller:
I believe that the first thing to do when you are ready to purchase a vehicle, be it an old or a new one, is to find a seller who is ready to sell at the moment. You can do this by searching for cars that are for sale within your area, online forums, and the marketplace.
- Make your research properly:
If you have found a seller and have also seen the type of vehicle you would like to purchase, you must do your research on both the car and the seller. Since the person you are buying the car from is a stranger you do not know, you would have to know more about the seller and what he is selling. Here are a few tips.
- Ask the seller if it is their first time selling a car or if they have sold any before.
- Ask the seller about the car to know if there has been any serious collision or damage to the car
- Ask to know if he has any unpaid loans on the car.
- Ask about the car title or any documents about the car.
- Ask about any major mechanical repairs.
- Ask the seller for a vehicle history report and if not, ask for the car’s vehicle identification number to get the report for yourself. This can be purchased on Carfax or Autocheck.
- Check the car paper and history:
Be sure that all documents are in place and valid, check for proof of ownership, purchase receipt, purchase date, and place of purchase.
- Meet in a public place:
Since the seller is probably a stranger you have not seen before, ask them to bring the car and meet you in a public place. It would also be a good opportunity for you to do a visual inspection of the car. You should check out the interior and exterior, and look for worn tires, damages etc.
- Do a test drive:
The car you are purchasing must be in good and sound condition so doing a test drive is necessary as you would be able to determine the condition of the car and whether it is worth buying or not.
- Determine if the car is selling for a good price:
Now that you have gotten some information on the car, and done a visual inspection and a test drive, you should be able to tell if the price at which the seller allocated the car is worth it ( if the price is fair). If you feel like the price is good for the car then you can proceed with making payments and if you feel like the price is too much for the car then you can negotiate further with the seller.
- Have the car inspected by a mechanic:
Of course, a visual inspection and test drive are not enough to know if the car is good enough to purchase. You should take the car to a mechanic to get it checked properly.
Now if after following all these steps you still want to go ahead with purchasing the car, you should proceed with making payments in exchange for the car. Here are some things to do when making payments or before making payments on the car.
- Make sure you are making payments with the seller present at your bank and if possible own the car keys and car documents or title.
- After payments, the next step, and probably the last step is to register and transfer the title to your name as the new owner
Tips to Avoid Being Scammed When Buying a Used Car From Someone
- Do not make payments until you have met with the seller, seen the car, and checked out everything about the car.
- Do not make payments without the seller being present. They need to be present to confirm that they have received your payment. Avoid transferring money to them without seeing the car you want to buy. Payments should only be made after seeing and confirming that the car is exactly what you want.
- Make sure the title of the car is in the seller’s name and not someone else.
- Make sure there’s no lien on the car you are purchasing to avoid paying off someone’s loan. If you purchase a car with a lien on it, you cannot transfer the title until the loan is paid off.
- When meeting with the seller, ensure to meet in a public place. Do not go to their homes and if you can, bring a friend with you.
Conclusion
Purchasing a used car from someone is a good way to save money and cut costs. The process might seem a little risky or complicated but when you take the right steps, it will be a lot easier and you can avoid being scammed.
Frequently asked questions
- How many owners has the vehicle had?
The first you need to do before purchasing a used vehicle is to find out how many owners it has had in the past. A vehicle that has been purchased by many should alert you that something is off.
- How old is the vehicle?
Due to depreciation, a car loses value with time so it’s important you know how old a vehicle is before purchasing. Knowing how old the car is could be an advantage for you to know the price you can negotiate.
- Why is the car being sold?
You might think it’s not necessary to ask a seller why they want to sell their car but in fact, it is necessary. Asking the seller why they want to sell their car could help you get to know them better and see the reason behind it. For example, the seller might want to sell for an upgrade to cut down on cost, or to use the money for something important and it could be that they are also selling it because it has been giving them trouble.
Of course, they won’t tell you if the car is bad but from asking you can know if they are being truthful or having trouble trying to give a reason why they want to sell it.
- Has the car had any major repairs recently?
Before purchasing a used car, you need to know if it has had any major repairs recently and what caused it. You wouldn’t want to buy a car and start having car troubles the following week or visit your mechanic from time to time. So before you purchase any used car, ask questions and get a mechanic to do a thorough check on it.
