Where to Buy

Some good places to buy a used car include car dealerships, private parties and automobile websites.  Each seller has advantages and disadvantages, but the most important thing is to do your due diligence before purchasing any used car.

Dealers

If you’re in the market for a used car, you probably know you have quite a number of options, not only in the cars themselves but in the sellers.  Most car dealerships sell used cars along with new cars.  The advantage of buying from a car dealership is usually the dealership employs mechanics to service all used cars before re-selling, so you can have a little more confidence that you won’t end up in the shop right after buying the car.  Plus, dealers will often provide you with limited service warranties on certain repairs.  Unfortunately for you, car dealerships have experienced salesmen with high overhead, so it’s much harder to negotiate a good deal.

Private Party

Buying a used car from a private party often results in a lower sale price than you get at a dealership.  Plus, private parties often maintain their own service records which give you a better sense of the car’s maintenance history.  The problem with buying from private parties, though, is that you don’t really know who you’re dealing with and you run a higher risk of buying a lemon.

Websites

There are also a number of websites that broker used car sales.  Websites make it faster and more convenient to look for a used car, but you’ll still need to do some personal inspection and research before buying your used car.

Protect Yourself

No matter where you choose to buy a used car, always be sure you’re getting what you pay for.  Obtaining a vehicle history report first will alert you to any potential hazards.  Vehicle history reports contain information about the car, such as major repairs, accidents and title history, to help you get a better sense of the condition and value of the car.  So order a vehicle history report online and take the mystery out of buying a used car.