Millions of people now appreciate the benefits of buying a used car rather than a new one, not least from a financial perspective. However, you still need to go the extra mile in your bid to find the perfect vehicle. Looking in the right place is a great starting point.
Here are 10 reasons why a dealership is better than a private sale
1. More Choice
On the one hand, buying a used car on a private basis opens the door to a world of vehicles. In reality, though, the fact that they are scattered all over the country means that you would only ever look at a small range before making a choice.
Conversely, a dealership will offer you the chance to test drive various models from different manufacturers. Our used car dealership In Saskatoon additionally offers a range of options such as manual versus automatic or the addition of tech features.
If you truly want the best chance of finding your dream vehicle, a dealer is the answer.
2. More Time
In addition to gaining a greater level of choice, opting for a used car dealer gives you more time to consider your decision. If you are set on a vehicle, you can usually ask the dealer for 48 hours to make a decision. When using a private seller, they are unlikely to afford this opportunity.
Even if the car you love is sold by the dealer because you took a few weeks to weigh up the pros and cons, the dealer can point you towards the next best solution. This removes a great deal of pressure, which also helps you make the decision with a clear mind.
This reward is commonly overlooked, but it makes a significant impact.
3. Flexible Payments
If you are buying from a private seller on eBay or Gumtree, the harsh reality is that cash payments are the only option at your disposal. When finding a few grand isn’t possible, it essentially rules out the purchase altogether. With a used car dealership, you’ll have options.
Those options include making monthly repayments or potentially renting the car instead of purchasing it. Moreover, the ability to get a car loan with bad credit or with a small deposit opens the door to a host of new opportunities too. This is great news for your bank balance.
Every car purchase should be made with financial factors in mind. Dealerships are better.
4. Avoid Disagreements
If you’re a young driver, it’s quite possible that your private purchase will come from an older relative or a friend. While this solution sounds great on paper, what happens if something goes wrong with the vehicle?
You would naturally question whether the seller purposely sold you a faulty car. This sense of feeling violated can quickly ruin your friendship. On a similar note, disagreements on repayment terms can quickly make life very difficult.
For anyone wanting to maintain friendships, avoiding this type of purchase is advised.
5. Greater Buyer Protection
When buying a used car, there are a number of risks that need to be accounted for. Most of them relate to the quality of the vehicle. However, those problems are far greater when making a private purchase because you are ultimately buying the vehicle ‘as seen’.
Dealerships, however, are legally bound to ensure that used vehicles are fit for purpose. So, you can be sure that it has been checked over. Besides, when choosing our used car dealership in Saskatoon, you’ll also know that we have a fine reputation to uphold.
And in the rare situation that a problem does surface, you can contact us to discuss the problem.
6. Room For Negotiation
Every driver wants to get the best value for money on their used car purchase. Once again, this is a reason to opt for using a dealer over a private purchase. Not least because private sellers often do a quick online search to find what their car is worth and inevitably pick the top price.
Likewise, a private seller with one car to sell wants to get the best return. For dealerships like ours, selling a greater number of vehicles at lower prices is a better business model. As well as boosting our overall revenue and keeping the forecourt fresh, we know it gains happy and loyal customers.
We will try to do you the best deal and can throw in small extras like refilling the petrol tank.
7. Higher Quality Cars
When looking at the private used car marketplace, the majority of vehicles will be quite old. And those that are relatively new probably have an issue with them. While a dealership has older cars too, finding quality vehicles is easier.
This is because any of our used cars come from returned car leasing models. Businesses and employees often lease a car for 2-3 years before upgrading. When you buy one of their returned cars from us, the only reason it’s on sale is because the lease agreement ended.
For cars with low mileage and the comforting add-ons, this is a great route to take.
8. Sell Your Old Car Too
Unless you are a first-time driver, it’s very likely that you’ll be looking to sell your old car too. The private seller isn’t likely to buy it from you, meaning you suddenly have to worry about two transactions rather than one.
It’s often possible to sell your car directly to the dealer on a part-exchange. There are many benefits of doing this, and not only because the sale can be used to offset the new purchase. It also saves you from a lot of paperwork and the threat of private buyers wanting a refund.
For convenience as well as financial outcomes, this is the way to go.
9. Gain Support
While you have a pretty good idea of what car you’d like, a dealer can help you discover the car you need. After all, they are experts in the field and want to make you happy. Sometimes, opting for a different model to the one you initially considered can make all the difference.
The dealer will spend time discussing your driving habits, requirements, and personal tech preferences. You’ll always have the opportunity to test drive a vehicle before committing to a purchase while there is no pressure to buy. You won’t get that with private sales.
With the support of an expert on your side, you can find a winning solution.
10. Peace Of Mind
Last but not least, simply knowing you have made the right choice with your used car purchase can provide peace of mind. This is arguably the most telling factor of all.
