If you’re buying a car and you need to get your family back on the road sooner, rather than later, then you’re likely to be going for a used car. It costs less, it’s usually easier, and you can typically end up with a car faster. However, don’t rush too much, as you want to make sure that you’re getting used Lincoln cars from the right seller. Here are a few reasons to more closely consider who you buy that used car from.
Cons of the dealership
Dealerships can’t really get away with selling you “lemons” as easily, but that doesn’t mean that you’re always going to get a great deal. When you buy from a dealership, make sure you have a good idea of what extras you might want to buy in terms of warranties and insurance. You are almost always going to find a seller trying to upsell you, so you need to know when to hold firm and say “no.”
Cons of the private market
The biggest disadvantage of the private market is that it’s not as regulated nor as closely watched as dealerships. As such, you need to be much more vigilant when you’re purchasing a used car from its previous owner. Aside from a test drive, make sure your mechanic has a look at it and run a reg check just to make sure that there are no shady elements to its past. If the owner tries to stop you from making any of these checks, it’s best to simply not consider that car.
Pros of the dealership
One of the best parts of buying a used car from a dealership is that they can be held accountable. They can’t sell you any cars that are written off or stolen since you can easily track the sale back to them. What’s more, used cars tend to be in better condition in a dealership. This is especially true of any cars that are certified pre-owned, which means that they have been maintained to ensure a certain standard of performance. In general, dealerships tend to be a more reliable option, offering some peace of mind about the purchase you make.
Pros of the private market
When you buy a used car from a dealership, they’re usually looking to sell the vehicle at value but with a markup, so that they make some money. Private dealers don’t typically have that markup, so they may end up having the better value deal for you. Just make sure that you test drive and check any vehicle you are considering buying privately to make sure that you don’t drive out of there with a lemon or, worse, a car that has been obtained illegally by the previous owner.
There are pros and cons to going with both dealerships and dealers. Usually, most people find dealerships to be a little more reliable in making sure that you’re getting the right car for your money, but the private market can sometimes offer better sales.