Reasons To Buy A Used Car From A Dealership Instead Of From A Private Seller

When you need to buy a vehicle and have decided that a used car will best suit your budget, you generally have a couple courses of action. One approach is to peruse the online classifieds in your city and see what private sellers are offering. The alternative is to visit local dealerships, browse the used sections, and find a vehicle that suits your need. While buying from a private seller can often work, you may find more advantages to the latter approach of shopping at a dealership. Here are some reasons to pursue your used vehicle in this manner.

Knowledgeable Sales Staff

When you buy a used car from a private citizen, the person is a vehicle owner but not a vehicle expert. This means that he or she isn't likely able to authoritatively answer your detailed questions about the vehicle. When you visit a dealership, however, you'll be dealing with a trained and experienced salesperson who can get you all the information about the vehicle that you need to know. If you have a question that the salesperson cannot answer, he or she will talk to colleagues or management to find out the answer for you.

Purchase Covered Under Warranty

If you buy a used vehicle privately, there is no warranty that will protect you. This means that if you encounter a problem with the vehicle that you didn't notice at the time of purchase, you won't be able to return it to the seller because of your dissatisfaction. This isn't a scenario that you'll encounter when you shop at a dealership. Many reputable dealerships cover their used cars with a warranty, which means that if you wish to return the vehicle within a specific amount of time for any reason, you'll be able to successfully do so.

Thorough Inspection Before Sale

Many private sellers sell used cars as-is. This means that they haven't necessarily been inspected by a mechanic who can divulge any issues facing the vehicle. When you buy a used vehicle from a dealership, it has likely already gone through an extensive inspection by a trained professional before it's put on the lot. This inspection will identify any problems related to the vehicle, which the dealership's service department can successfully address prior to the car being listed for sale. By having the vehicle go through this process, there will be a lower probability that you'll encounter problems with it.