Should I Buy a Used Car from a Dealership or Privately?

If you feel a bit of anxiety when it comes to buying a used car, you’re not alone. If you’re not a car expert, the number of choices can feel overwhelming. How do you know you’re buying a good car at a fair price? Is buying a used car from an individual safer than a used car dealership?

Major World has answers to all these questions and some practical advice to help you get more comfortable with car shopping and confident in choosing the right used car. 

Buying a Used Car at a Used Car Dealership

Most people buy their used cars at a dealership, and it’s easy to see why. Trust is one of the top reasons people go to a dealership like Major World. A brick-and-mortar business that has been operating for more than 40 years has its reputation at stake. Reputation is everything in business. A random person on Facebook Marketplace has little to nothing to lose. They don’t even have to use their real name or photo. 

Another big reason most people shop for a used car at a dealership is selection. Nowhere else in the world can you examine and test drive dozens of different makes and models in one place. Even new car dealerships rarely sell more than two or three brands. Major World carries 30 different car and truck brands. 

If you’ve already decided on a certain make and model, chances are good that we’ve got a few examples for you to choose from. If you’re not sure what you want, we’re willing to be that an afternoon at Major World will clear it up for you. 

Buying your next used car at Major World gets you all of those advantages, plus:

• Major World is BBB Accredited and has the highest rank of A+
• We offer easy financing options. You can even pre-qualify online right now.
• We’ll buy your trade-in vehicle—even if you’re still making payments!
• We only sell vehicles that pass our stringent top-to-bottom vehicle exam.
• We offer extended and aftermarket vehicle warranties 
• Our certified technicians offer in-house servicing. 

Should I Buy a Used Car from a Private Seller?

Buying a used car from a private seller can seem like an attractive option. If you have cash in hand, you might imagine buying a car from a person off of Facebook or Craiglist would be simpler than going to a dealership and you might even save some money. 

The truth is if you are a savvy negotiator or you find that one-in-a-million vehicle driven only by grandma to church that’s been sold by a kind family—then yeah, you just might score a killer deal. It does happen. The catch is that private individuals selling a car don’t have a reputation to protect, and they aren’t licensed or regulated by the state like a used car dealership like Major World is. 

What’s Curbstoning and How Can You Avoid Used Car Scams?

Believe it or not, many of the people selling cars on Facebook, Craigslist, and car newspapers aren’t really selling their own cars. They are engaged in a shady practice known as curbstoning. 

This means they buy and sell used cars regularly for profit, but they are trying to stay under the authorities’ radar and avoid getting licensed to sell used cars. In the best-case scenario, they are breaking the law to avoid some taxes. 

In the worst-case scenario, they are slippery dudes who sell sketchy cars with bad titles, liens, or undisclosed accidents. Then, they disappear for a few months and return under a whole new username. It’s a big problem.

Buying Your Used Car from a Private Seller

If you decide to buy a car from an individual, we strongly recommend choosing someone you know well or who a family member or friend can vouch for. Don’t buy a vehicle from a stranger off the Internet who doesn’t represent a reputable business. If it seems too good to be true, it is. 

If you buy a vehicle from someone you trust or are vouched for, we still suggest getting a CarFax report. It’s always possible there is something they don’t know about in the vehicle’s history or something they forget to tell you. 

You should also bring it to a mechanic you trust and pick out personally. Individual car sellers don’t usually do the type of wall-to-wall inspection that Major World does before they sell a vehicle, so that’s your responsibility in a private sale.

Tips when buying a used vehicle from an individual in a private sale:

• Avoid buying vehicles from strangers who aren’t licensed to sell cars.
• Don’t buy from anyone who appears to be “curbstoning”. There’s too much risk involved.
• Get your own CarFax report done before you hand over any money or sign a bill of sale.
• Take a long test drive and have a mechanic you trust to assess the vehicle thoroughly. 

The Wise Way to Shop for a Used Car in New York

If you have a relative or friend you trust that can give you a great deal on a vehicle you know the history of, more power to you. We’ve bought vehicles that way ourselves! 

But, if you’re considering braving the wilds of Facebook Marketplace or the Newsday classified, be very careful. Unfortunately, curbstoners and scammers abound in those places. Getting a good deal is possible, but you must be aware of the risks and protect yourself as much as possible. 

If you’re like most people, you will get more peace of mind and convenience by shopping at a reputable used car dealership like Major World. For more than 40 years, Major World has been the premier used car dealership in the New York Metro area and Long Island. 

Selection, easy, one-stop financing, on-site service from qualified technicians, and more.

You deserve the Major World standard of customer care. 

Let’s talk: (866) 614-2884.