How to Buy a Used Car From a Private Party

When a person spends the money to purchase a used car from a private party, it is always a good idea to be as cautious as possible. At least when a person buys a used car from a dealer they have more security and the track record of the dealer to fall back on. However, if you take the necessary steps, buying from a private party can be a pleasant experience for both parties.

Instructions

1

Research the used car thoroughly before deciding to buy from a private party. Many good Internet resources will allow you to obtain an approximation that you should pay for a used car. See the Resources section for more information.

2

Make a list of questions you have about the particular used car you wish to buy from a third party. Some of the common questions you need answered are the reason they are selling the car, the mileage on the car, special features the car has, who the original owner is, accident history of the vehicle and the service record for the vehicle.

3

Call the private party to ask all the questions you compiled in the previous step. Make sure you call the private party at a convenient time of day and not during dinner time or late at night.

4

End the call if the private party is evasive or you just do not feel comfortable during the conversation. Usually your instincts are correct and if the used car owner seems shady or untruthful, he they probably is.

5

Establish a base price for the purchase on the phone. If the price seems too high or the owner is unwilling to allow room for negotiation, you may not want to buy a car from the person. If the price is not right, the rest will be a waste of your time.

6

Set a place and time where you can meet the private party to inspect and test-drive the used car. Make sure the time is convenient and the location is in a public place, like a mall parking lot. If you do decide to meet her at her house, be sure to take someone with you or at the very least, tell another person when you are going and when to expect you back. This helps prevent the possibility of foul play during the transaction.

7

Inspect the used car thoroughly and take it on a test drive, preferably on streets you normally drive. Be sure to take the used car out for a highway test drive as well as a neighborhood test drive. If you do not know anything about cars, it is best to bring a mechanic or someone knowledgeable about cars with you for the inspection.

8

Check out at least a few different used cars and compare them to each other before making the purchase.

9

Negotiate a final price with the private party once you choose the used car you want to purchase. Do not be afraid to walk away if the private party will not meet your asking price.

10

Buy the used car from the private party after you finalize all the details and arrange the financing for the used car. If you are getting a loan from a bank, be sure to read all of the fine print on the loan.