If you're looking for a reliable used vehicle, it may be tempting to look for a bargain priced car from the private seller listings. However, even a "cheap" auto purchase generally involves spending a significant amount of money. Would it really be wise to put your safety and your wallet into the hands of a relatively random stranger?

Thinking Twice About Buying Privately

Can you really put a price tag on peace of mind? While no used car purchase can ever be 100% guaranteed, it is possible to make an informed decision that has a positive outcome by eliminating as many unknown variables as possible. But this is much more difficult to accomplish with a private seller.

  • Dealers are bound by Federal Trade Commission rules. Private sellers are not. This means that there is far less accountability for unscrupulous actions. Of course, there are plenty of honest individuals who sell vehicles privately, but you're still taking a considerable gamble when there is no way to determine who's who.
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  • There is no warranty option. Granted, not all used vehicles that are purchased from dealers come with warranties, but a certified pre-owned option is worth exploring. With these cars, you get some of the certainty that comes with buying a new car without having to pay a new car price.
  • You must complete and submit most of the paperwork yourself. This just adds time and frustration to the car buying process, and it may leave room for unnecessary errors. If you purchase a used car at a dealer, the title transfer, bill of sale and registration documents will all be taken care of for you.
  • You will be working around someone else's schedule. Regardless of where you go to select the used vehicle that you intend to buy, it is a good idea to have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choosing. And while a dealership has set operational hours that you can depend on, a private seller may or may not be available at a time that is convenient for you.
  • There is no opportunity to build your credit. Buying a cheap car from a private seller probably involves paying cash outright. And while that means you won't have a monthly payment, you also won't be improving your credit score. Timely payments made on an auto loan are a means towards building a credit history or repairing a damaged credit rating.

Good for You, Good for Your Credit

At Auto Credit Express, we want only the best for our customers. This is why we work with a network of qualified dealers who offer the best and most reliable used vehicles on the market. We believe that even if you're dealing with tarnished credit, you don't have to settle for a cheap car acquired from a questionable source. Contact us, and we'll connect you with a dealer that can really help by getting you approved for affordable financing so that you can buy a car that has real value.

Get started today by filling out our fast and secure online application.