Buying a car for a private seller? One of the first things you need to be aware of is the number of scams that run rampant through the private auto sale industry. And the funny thing about con men and criminals is that they don’t look like con men and criminals. They couldn’t, after all, or they wouldn’t be successful. Little old grandmothers who only drove a car on Sundays aren’t always as innocent as they appear to be either. You can’t just judge a car on the private seller’s word – you need to do your own due diligence. 
You may be able to get useful information about a car you’re thinking about buying from its current owner. They should have information about the history of the car, both in terms of how it’s been used, how it’s been maintained and serviced, and whether or not the car has ever been in an accident. In fact, when this information is available, it’s one of the best things about making a car purchase from a private seller instead of from a commercial dealership. A private seller may also have more flexibility in terms of negotiating price and financing the purchase than a public or commercial seller.
However, none of this should cause you to lose sight of the fact that the type of seller with whom you’re working doesn’t change the fact that the purchase of a car is the purchase of a car. Whatever your relationship with the seller of the car may be, it’s ultimately the quality, reliability and safety of the car that should be your primary consideration. After all, you’ll be entrusting your life and possibly the lives of people you love to this car. Conversely, if you’re purchasing the car for parts or as a potential collector’s item, it’s those considerations that should take precedence over any relationship you may or may not have with the seller.
In many ways, buying a car from a private seller is safer and easier today than it has ever been before. Pre-sale car inspections have become the norm when buying used cars. Some sellers even anticipate this request from potential buyers and have a certified inspection report already prepared. If they don’t, you’ll want to obtain one for any car you plan to drive.
Finding out about a car’s background and title is easy to do with the CarFax service. For a small fee, you can find out whether a car has been involved in an accident, has been the subject of a recall, who the previous owners have been, whether there are any outstanding liens, and whether or not you would receive a clear, legal title if you bought the car. The money you spend on CarFax is money well spent whenever you’re considering a used car. However, the CarFax report should only be a starting point – once you’ve identified a potential purchase, it’s still vital to get a pre-sale inspection from a qualified mechanic.
If you use a little caution, buying a car from a private seller can be a wonderful option for purchasing a car. Know what you want the car for and get an inspection of the car and title, and you can be confident in your purchase decision.
