For car aficionados, commercial car sales may not offer what you truly want. If you are looking for a specific make or model of a car, private sales may be the better option for you. While you often can find the car that truly speaks to your soul, there are a few things that you need to know.
You Aren’t Restricted to Your Location
While there may be limited options close to home, you can also find vast prospects in private car sales. If you are looking for a specific type of vehicle, make or model, you can do a national search and conduct the sale from a distance. Keep in mind that if you participate in a private sale, you do also need to consider how you will manage auto transport from the seller’s location to you.
You Need to Know What Questions to Ask
Whether you are in-person or conducting the sale from a distance, you need to know what questions to ask. Understanding the condition of the car, its history and many other key details to understand whether this is a good fit or not will likely help inform your decision. Even if you plan to rebuild the car, you still want to know if you are paying a reasonable amount of the car in its current condition.
You Should Inspect the Car Yourself
If you can, take a look at the car in-person to avoid major issues. While most sellers are honest and reasonable people, you want to avoid any issues with sellers who may be lacking in this area. If you can, take a trip out to assess the car yourself.
You Need to Consider an Inspection and Test Drive
If you inspect the car in-person, this is the perfect time to take the car for a test drive and inspection. If you find that the seller is unwilling, you may want to consider factoring that into your price or finding another vehicle. Even if you cannot attend an in-person evaluation, you can ask the seller to have the car inspected by a verified mechanic who can sign off on the status of the vehicle. Again, even if you are going to gut the car and rebuild it, this can play a significant role in the price tag.
Private sales can be a great alternative for many car buyers, offering selections that commercial buyers just cannot offer; however, there are also potential risks. If you do pursue a private sale, you need to do your due diligence, as private sellers do not have a reputation to uphold and you don’t want to find yourself dealing with a scam or irreparable issues.
