Buying Your Car From a Car Dealer vs. a Private Seller

If you’re looking for a new-to-you vehicle around Minneapolis, then you can either choose to get one from a licensed car dealership or from a private individual looking to sell their own vehicle to you. Both options have their own benefits and disadvantages, but which option is the best choice for you? Take a look at the pros and cons of buying from a dealer vs. a private seller with Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service!

Car Dealer vs. Private Seller: Buying From a Private Seller

Maybe you don’t know which dealership to shop from for your next vehicle, or maybe you don’t want to go through a dealership at all. So, you decide to shop from local St. Paul drivers looking to sell you their vehicle. Here are the benefits and disadvantages of buying your next car from a private seller:

Benefits

• Good Idea of the Car: A private individual usually has a more in-depth knowledge of their vehicle since it’s theirs and they drive it regularly. Because of this, they can usually give you a good idea of what you can expect from diving this vehicle yourself…assuming they’re being upfront with you.
• Large Variety: Sometimes, it can be hard to shop for a vehicle that’s a specific make and model or that’s rare. In the case that a dealership doesn’t have the particular vehicle you’re looking for, you can usually shop through a larger variety of options when going through a private seller.

Disadvantages

• No Warranty Coverage: Unlike going through a dealership, going through a private seller means that the vehicle won’t come with any kind of warranty coverage. This means that if the car breaks down around Edina, you’ll have to pay any service fees out of pocket.
• Lack of Service History: A private seller can more than likely tell you all about the vehicle, but one of the drawbacks of going through a private seller is that they don’t usually have many records or any kind of service history. This means that you’ll have no way of knowing if any kinds of major, and costly, services are due on the vehicle.

Car Dealer vs. Private Seller: Buying From a Car Dealer

While going through a private seller may seem like an easy solution to finding a new vehicle, it’s usually the exact opposite. Going through a licensed car dealer means that you can feel confident that you’re getting a vehicle that’s been inspected and fairly priced. There are also plenty of other benefits of going through a dealership for your next car.

Benefits

• Fair Prices: Many drivers turn to private sellers hoping to get lower prices, but this isn’t always the case. Many dealerships, including Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service, set their prices using market value data. At Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service, our prices are negotiable, and we offer a wide range of pre-owned specials to help you save even more!
• OEM Service & Parts: Our dealership, like many others, has a service center and a parts center that are both made up of experts who specialize in keeping your car running like new.
• Certified Pre-Owned Models: We have a wide range of pre-owned models to choose from, but we also have plenty of certified pre-owned models that have like-new quality at more affordable prices.
• Easy Trade-In Process: If you’d like to trade your current vehicle for some quick cash or to have more money to put towards a new purchase, then you can easily trade in your car at Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service. Value your trade with us to see what your car is worth, then bring it to us, so we can handle everything else.

Disadvantages

• Financing: Some drivers don’t like the monthly payments that come with financing, which is why they turn to private sellers. However, paying for a car in full with cash isn’t always an option, so financing gives you the flexibility to get the car you want at a good rate. Plus, our finance center at Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service can help you explore your financing options, so you can feel confident about your decision.

Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of what you can expect when buying from a dealer vs. a private seller in Richfield. You might be able to get a better price for a car that probably doesn’t have much of a service history going through a private seller. But, if you want a car that’s been inspected, has plenty of service history, and is fairly priced with room for negotiation, then visit Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service!

Find a Pre-Owned Car at Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service!

Why should you consider shopping from our car dealer over a private seller? Contact us to take a look at our current selection and specials, and don’t hesitate to check out some of our other car-buying tips and tricks!