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Deal or No Deal? The Benefits of Buying From A Car Dealership
- By Daniel Collins
- Published 07/9/2008
- Shopping and Product Reviews
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Daniel Collins
Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.
View all articles by Daniel CollinsIt's true that the used car market can be a minefield; are you better buying privately, or shou
Used cars change hands every day; some from the owner's driveway in a private sale, while others are driven from dealers' forecourts. For those who have gone the private sale route, the decision to buy will likely have been made with one eye on the price. But while it may seem that these buyers might have a bargain initially, there are far less guarantees when buying a car privately from another individual.
Will the original seller provide you with a warranty should a component fail in the subsequent few weeks of your ownership? What about road-tax or MOT? Can the owner prove they are legally entitled to sell the vehicle, or that the vehicle hasn't been written off previously? These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself - and the seller - before entering into a private sale, as to do otherwise could be leaving yourself open to trouble later down the road.
However, buying a car from a dealership can bypass many of the pitfalls associated with buying privately. For starters, any car held in dealer stock will already have been subject to a full HPI check and a full AA or RAC inspection, which would highlight any outstanding finance on the vehicle or if the car has been written off previously by an insurance company and subsequently repaired, or any mechanical defects; thus providing peace of mind to any potential buyer that the car can be legally sold and is in a roadworthy condition.
Many dealerships are interlinked, so if your local branch doesn't have the car you want in it's current inventory there's a good chance that another branch will. By way of a quick computer check, a salesperson can find all cars matching your desired requirements - make, model, colour, included extras, etc - in other branches and can arrange for you to view the vehicle at the holding branch. In some cases, the car can even be transferred to your local branch, saving you the hassle of travelling - especially if your dream car is in a branch at the other end of the country!
When buying your car from a dealer, you'll also be protected by an included warranty on your vehicle which will cover your new purchase from mechanical failure for a specified period of time.
The duration of warranties offered differ between dealers, but typically run between three months and one year, and these warranties can be extended to cover a longer period of time. What's more, many dealers will also give your new car a complimentary pre-delivery service so you can be sure the car will be in tip-top condition when it comes to driving it from the forecourt.
Buying from a dealer also allows you to extend your budget and purchase a newer model than you might do if you only had a certain amount of cash. Most dealers offer a range of finance packages to help you meet the cost of your new car, whereas buying privately means you'll need to pay the full purchase price upfront. In some cases, buying your car on finance also allows you the added benefit of adding other services into your finance agreement, such as extended warranties and vehicle servicing. You can also trade in your old car against the purchase price.
Dealers will also allow you to carry out any checks on the car yourself. Although dealers perform their own HPI checks, there's nothing to stop you doing one of your own, or having a mechanic check over the car. Most dealers also invite you to take the car for a test drive so you can get a feel for the car and to help spot any potential issues the car may have; things which a private seller may not be so keen on you doing, just in case there's something untoward lurking under the bonnet they'd rather you didn't know about!
Buying a car privately can be a long, frustrating and potentially costly process, so you need to ask yourself whether it is really worth all the hassle. After all, it might be slightly cheaper but your choice may be limited and there's no comeback if the car later proves to be unreliable. Going through a reputable dealer who specialises in used cars can help negate the potential pitfalls of buying privately so when it’s time to change your car, give yourself the best chance of finding one you can be happy with.
Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.
Will the original seller provide you with a warranty should a component fail in the subsequent few weeks of your ownership? What about road-tax or MOT? Can the owner prove they are legally entitled to sell the vehicle, or that the vehicle hasn't been written off previously? These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself - and the seller - before entering into a private sale, as to do otherwise could be leaving yourself open to trouble later down the road.
However, buying a car from a dealership can bypass many of the pitfalls associated with buying privately. For starters, any car held in dealer stock will already have been subject to a full HPI check and a full AA or RAC inspection, which would highlight any outstanding finance on the vehicle or if the car has been written off previously by an insurance company and subsequently repaired, or any mechanical defects; thus providing peace of mind to any potential buyer that the car can be legally sold and is in a roadworthy condition.
Many dealerships are interlinked, so if your local branch doesn't have the car you want in it's current inventory there's a good chance that another branch will. By way of a quick computer check, a salesperson can find all cars matching your desired requirements - make, model, colour, included extras, etc - in other branches and can arrange for you to view the vehicle at the holding branch. In some cases, the car can even be transferred to your local branch, saving you the hassle of travelling - especially if your dream car is in a branch at the other end of the country!
When buying your car from a dealer, you'll also be protected by an included warranty on your vehicle which will cover your new purchase from mechanical failure for a specified period of time.
Buying from a dealer also allows you to extend your budget and purchase a newer model than you might do if you only had a certain amount of cash. Most dealers offer a range of finance packages to help you meet the cost of your new car, whereas buying privately means you'll need to pay the full purchase price upfront. In some cases, buying your car on finance also allows you the added benefit of adding other services into your finance agreement, such as extended warranties and vehicle servicing. You can also trade in your old car against the purchase price.
Dealers will also allow you to carry out any checks on the car yourself. Although dealers perform their own HPI checks, there's nothing to stop you doing one of your own, or having a mechanic check over the car. Most dealers also invite you to take the car for a test drive so you can get a feel for the car and to help spot any potential issues the car may have; things which a private seller may not be so keen on you doing, just in case there's something untoward lurking under the bonnet they'd rather you didn't know about!
Buying a car privately can be a long, frustrating and potentially costly process, so you need to ask yourself whether it is really worth all the hassle. After all, it might be slightly cheaper but your choice may be limited and there's no comeback if the car later proves to be unreliable. Going through a reputable dealer who specialises in used cars can help negate the potential pitfalls of buying privately so when it’s time to change your car, give yourself the best chance of finding one you can be happy with.
Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.