If you have decided not to buy a car from a dealership and instead are going with a private seller there are a few extra steps you may need to take to ensure the transaction goes smoothly.
Doing a little bit of research can go a long way. If you know exactly what you are looking for you are less likely to be ripped off by someone trying to sell a hunk of metal with a good paint job. Start by deciding what kind of car you are looking for. What year do you want? What make and model? Once you have an idea of what car fits you and your budget, check the Kelly blue book price for the vehicle and compare rates for similar cars that are for sale online. Being educated about the average price of the car you want will help you get the best deal.
Be sure that once you have located a car you are interested in you go and see it first. Don’t bring money with you the first time you go to check out the car. You don’t want to make a rush decision. You should do a thorough visual inspection of the vehicle before you even talk about money with the seller. Check to be sure that the VIN numbers on the dashboard match the one on the doors, if they don’t this is a sign that the car could possibly be stolen. Also, check for any fluids that might be leaking or signs that there is rust under the paint. Once you have looked it over thoroughly ask to take it for a short test drive.
If all looks good don’t be afraid to ask the seller a few questions about the car and its history. Find out if there are any known repairs needed or if there have been any resent repairs or maintenance done. Ask the seller if they are the original owner of the vehicle. It is also a very good idea to ask about the accident history of the car. The seller may not be honest with you about these things but seeing their reaction when you ask the questions should give you an idea about how much they can be trusted.
After you have gone to see the car, given it a good visual inspection, and asked the seller all the questions you have it is still a good idea to have a professional mechanic look at the car to be sure all of the internal parts are in working order. Any legitimate seller shouldn’t have a problem with you asking them to bring it to your mechanic.
Once your mechanic has checked out the vehicle and given you the go ahead arrange to meet the seller for the final paperwork. You should prepare a blank bill of sale to bring with the money. Be sure to include a space for the VIN number of the vehicle, the seller’s full name and address.
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