The cheapest way to buy a used car is by finding used cars for sale by owner, or private sellers. You can find these vehicles all over the place, especially when the weather is nice.
Ever see a car on the side of the road with a big price marked on the windshield? Those are privately sold cars by the owner themselves, and compared to buying cars from a used car dealership, they have their own unique set of advantages and disadvantages.
Which is best for you?
So what are the differences between getting local used car sales from a private owner and buying it at a dealership? The biggest difference is the lower price you could be able to get. This is the most attractive reason for most drivers to try to find privately sold cars.
Private sellers are not required to make the kind of profit dealerships are, so they are much more likely to cut the price. Especially when you have the money up front, getting rid of that car and the convenience of having the money in their hand right away can be a very attractive idea for private sellers. It is also a much easier process to buy from the owner themselves.
Think it over
There are some disadvantages to buying from the owner, however. You will not be able to get any kind of auto financing like you would be able to at a dealership, so you will have to have all the money needed right then and there. You will also not be able to get any kind of warranty on the vehicle.
You also do not have any kind of selection open to you; you really can only choose the one car they have for sale. It's not like a dealership where if you decide one particular car isn't right for you, you can simply walk over to another one and check that out.
Like any big decision, it will give you the best chance if you go in prepared. Do all your homework beforehand and know whether you should go to a dealership or find a privately sold car by the owner.
