Step by Step Guide for Buying a Car on Craigslist

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Buying a car on craigslist might sound like a bad idea. Many people worry about buying a car from an individual rather than a dealership, but there are some reasons that this might be a much better deal. Buying direct from a seller on Craigslist can save you a lot of money and time. You just need to know how to engage in this kind of sales process so that you do not get a car that is a lemon or end up the victim of a scam.

If you have been fretting about buying your next car from Craigslist, but you are seeing lots of good deals that you are interested in, this guide can help! Being sure about the best ways to buy from Craigslist can allow you to access this car sales market and get an affordable car that suits your needs perfectly.

If you are ready to learn some more about how to buy a car off Craigslist and do it right, you need to keep reading!

Step by Step Guide to Buying a Car on Craigslist

1. Define the Search You Are Using

The most important way that you can set yourself up for success when buying a car off Craigslist is to set up your search definition correctly. You might be overwhelmed by cars that just don’t fit your needs when you do a generic search, and this can lead to all kinds of confusion when trying to isolate good deals. Make sure that you are shopping within your budget first and foremost, and then filter for some other factors that are most important to you. You might be worried about mileage, or maybe you just want a specific make and model of a car.

The more that you narrow your search parameters, the easier it will be to find what you are looking for. Being tempted by things that you cannot afford or by fixer-uppers that you are not skilled enough to take care of can open you up to getting a car that is not right for your needs.

2. Look at the Listing Carefully

When considering a listing, make sure that you look at the pictures and confirm that the make and model are correct and match the text of the ad. A common scam tactic on Craigslist is to post pictures of a different car or a newer car and then describe the one that is for sale. This can lead to major disappointment when you get to the meet-up, and the car is not in the condition that it was shown to be in the ad. You will also want to make sure that you check out the VIN and confirm that it is valid and that there is nothing wrong with the title. This information is not always readily available, but it can help you to avoid cars that have been wrecked or that have questionable titles.

You will also want to make sure to look up the VIN and the car’s make and model on Kelly Blue Book. This will give you a good idea of the market value of the car before you reach out to the seller.

3. Contact the Seller

When you are interested enough in a car to reach out to the person who has listed it, make sure that you have some questions in mind to ask the person. These questions should be targeted at collecting information about the car’s history and a request for a vehicle history report. Sellers who have done their homework will be able to provide these details with ease. You should be worried if you are struggling to get at this information, as this can be a sign that you are dealing with a scammer or someone that just really has no idea what the car should be sold for.

A vehicle history report will tell you a lot about the car, and this is often all that you should need to try and rule out cars that are not in great condition or that have not been maintained. These reports will also list car accidents and other kinds of major damage to the car. You should be able to get this information from the seller without issue, and this offers you a chance to know more about the car before you bother going to see it.

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4. Meet Up to See the Car

This is one of the stages of the purchase process where you might want to bring a car-knowledgeable person along with you. There are a variety of things that you will want to look at when you are checking a car out in person. You will want to see if the dipstick shows that there is oil, look for any signs of visible damage, and drive the car to see how it performs. If you have someone who is car knowledgeable with you, they will be more likely to see things that you would miss.

If you do not see any red flags before you drive the car, make sure that you put it through its paces when you do drive it. You want to be sure that all the necessary functions work and that it drives well at highway speeds as well as local driving speeds. Pay attention to warning lights, funny sounds, bad smells, or performance issues when the car shifts gears.

5. Negotiation

If you have decided that the car is performing as stated and it meets your needs, you will be in a position to start negotiation for the purchase. It is a good rule of thumb to start out offering about 15% below the asking price. You should never start out with the full asking price since you will want to save some money for things like new tires, registration, and other costs that might be needed to make the car suit your needs a little better.

Most sellers will work with you and meet you in the middle at about 10% less than the asking or maybe 5% less. Don’t be too aggressive about your offer if you are happy with the condition of the car, as the seller will probably know the value of the car. If you insult them with your offer, they might refuse to negotiate with you, and you could lose the sale. This is another instance when having a skilled negotiator or experienced car buyer with you can help make this part of the process better for everyone involved.

6. Pay and Exchange Title

When you agree on a price for the car, make sure that before you hand over the money to the seller, you verify that the title is in their name. Ask to see their driver’s license to confirm that they are really the licensed owner of the car. You will also want to make sure the VIN on the title matches the VIN that is on the car. If these details match, then you have confirmed that this person has the right to sell the car.

You can opt to pay in a variety of ways. This might have already been discussed with the seller. Most people will want cash in hand to sell a car via Craigslist, however some people will be willing to accept PayPal or Venmo. These platforms don’t guarantee these transactions, however, so be aware of the risks related to using these methods instead of payment instead of paying in cash.

7. Take Care of Paperwork

The first thing that you will want to do before you drive your car home is to call your insurance company or hop online and insure your car. You will have a week-long extension in coverage that is granted to your car by most insurance companies, but you should just go ahead and get the right coverage on the car now that you own it. You will need to have this document in hand anyway to work with the DMV to register the car in your name.

Many people drive to the DMV next to take care of the title transfer process right away. This is always a good way to handle this process, as waiting can lead to confusion and can make it easy to procrastinate about taking care of this necessary step. Once you have paid the fees to change the title and register the car, you will be the proud owner of a new car!

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8. Buying Off Craigslist Can be Simple

If you have been avoiding shopping on Craigslist for a new car, this guide should put your mind at ease about the process. You will want to make sure that you do your homework and that you reach out to an experienced friend if you need a little support for your meet-up with the seller. The more careful you are about doing your homework, the easier the purchase process will be. Always trust your instincts and avoid sellers that give you a bad feeling or cars that just don’t seem like a good deal to you. Being an informed consumer will help you to buy with ease off Craigslist every time you need a new car.