For those in the market for a used car, navigating all the choices can be overwhelming. You’ll find many options when looking for the perfect pre-owned vehicle. The first choice buyers must make is deciding between purchasing through a private seller or a professional auto dealer. To help guide buyers through the decision-making process, we have compiled the most important advantages and disadvantages of buying a used car through a dealership.
Pros
- Selection: First and foremost, one of the greatest perks of buying through a dealer is the variety of used cars to look through in one location. Due to a variety of acquisition methods such as trade-ins, dealerships often have a wide assortment of vehicle makes and models right on the lot.
- Warranty: Unlike private sellers, dealerships offer various warranties for pre-owned cars. This provides protection and peace of mind to buyers by ensuring the vehicle will be fixed if the car has any initial problems after purchase. Warranties vary by the age of the car and by the dealer, so it is best to ask detailed questions to understand all the warranty covers.
- Inspection: Though no car is perfect, an added benefit to shopping at a dealership is that all used cars undergo thorough evaluation before being placed on the lot. Dealers want their vehicles in the best selling condition, so they will perform fixes and a deep cleaning prior to putting them up for sale.
Cons
- History: Due to the high volume of cars that auto dealers churn through in a year, the salesmen typically cannot provide too many details about each car individually. Some dealers may be able to provide a car history report to inform the buyer of any wrecks or serious repair work. However, if no report is provided, it is recommended that buyers purchase their own report.
- Salesmen & Negotiation: One of the biggest drawbacks of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is the pressure salesmen apply to the buyer. Many dealers will push shoppers into buying the vehicle the same day before proper time and consideration. Though negotiation can help buyers get a better deal, it can also be a stressful process as buyers get rotated around to several salespeople. The most important thing is for shoppers to stand their ground and only purchase when they feel completely comfortable.
- Price: Although used cars from dealerships come with warranties and inspections, they also tend to come with a higher price tag compared to private dealers. Be sure to weigh the benefits of the additional warranties against the steeper sale price.
