Buying A Used Car: Private Seller Or Harrisonburg Dealership?
When you're ready to buy another car and you want that car to be a quality used vehicle, you've got plenty of options.
With only about 350 new car models entering the market every year, the used car market provides thousands of choices!
The bigger question is, "Which has the better value, buying from a private seller or from an auto dealership?"
It's a great question and there are pros and cons for each. Take a look.
Buying A Pre-Owned Car from A Private Seller
When you buy a used car privately, you'll likely pay less for the vehicle. That's because dealerships in Harrisonburg have more invested.
• Car dealers must cover the cost of reconditioning the vehicle
• Must pay for advertising
• Must pay a salesperson for a commission
• Dealership must pay the administrative costs related to the purchase of the vehicle
Private sellers don't incur these costs. Plus, private sellers are generally eager to sell their car and will usually show more flexibility in price negotiations.
Not all privately sold cars are in good condition, though. That's why it's smart to get a vehicle history report on it. However, other owners will have a history of maintenance and service records.
This is the type of private seller you want! Typically, these sellers are less inclined to trade in their vehicles because they feel the vehicle is worth much more than the dealer will give them.
For you, the buyer, that means you get a well-maintained car at a good price. Plus, if you're a serious buyer, the seller will be more likely to quickly negotiate its sale. (If it's a rare or vintage vehicle, that may not be the case.)
Buying a used vehicle privately does require meeting strangers and test driving the car. It also means getting the vehicle inspected by your mechanic and completing all the legal paperwork yourself. Plus, you'll need to sell your old vehicle yourself.
Lastly, private sellers don't offer a guarantee or warranty. You, the buyer, must perform your due diligence by getting a vehicle history report, paying for a mechanic's inspection, and conducting a thorough test drive to make sure the car is in good working order.
Advantages of Buying A Used Car from a Harrisonburg Dealership
Some of the "disadvantages" of buying a secondhand car from a dealership are also advantages for you. Yes, you will probably pay more for the car, truck, or SUV, but you'll also be assured of a lot more.
Harrisonburg car dealerships like Joe Bowman Auto Plaza must abide by the Federal Trade Commission rules as well as state regulations when selling vehicles. You are protected under Federal law. Not so with a private seller.
When you buy a preowned vehicle from the Bowman Chevrolet dealership, it must pass a rigorous 75-point used car inspection. If it does not pass, it does not get placed on the lot for sale.
To pass this inspection, our certified Chevrolet technicians comb every inch of the vehicle, replacing what needs to be fixed. If there is any question about the vehicle's serviceability, we will not sell it.
And we back up our work with either a 30 or 90-day used car warranty, depending on the age and mileage of the car.
Finally, we continue our good service after the sale. Because we want you as a customer for life, we offer:
• Preferred service scheduling-If there is a scheduling issue with two vehicles, the customer who bought their car from us takes priority.
• Lifetime FREE car inspections-For as long as you own the car
• Courtesy transportation when your car is in the shop
Trade In or Sell Your Old Car to the Dealership
Another valuable perk of buying a pre-owned car through our Chevrolet dealership is this. You have the option of either trading in your old car, or we'll buy it from you.
In fact, you can buy a car elsewhere and we'll still buy your old car from you.
That means you don't have the expense of advertising your old vehicle for sale. Nor, do you have to wait to find a buyer.
The Benefits of Dealership Used Car Financing in Harrisonburg, VA
Once you've found the car you want, Joe Bowman Chevrolet makes it very easy to get you behind the wheel quickly. You can either choose to get used car financing through your bank or through us.
It will take a bit longer to get financing through your bank because both businesses have to approve the legal documents associated with car buying. But we'll move as fast as we can to get you into your new vehicle!
With dealer auto financing, the sale moves along more quickly. Our auto rates are very competitive, meeting and often beating local bank auto rates. Plus, we also call your car insurance company to get your insurance set up.
That means when you leave our dealership, you have a quality used car, a limited warranty, all the legal paperwork completed, your car insurance set up for you, and preferred service scheduling after the sale.
When it comes right down to it, buying a vehicle from our Harrisonburg car dealership ensures peace of mind. How much is that worth to you?
To learn more about Joe Bowman Auto Plaza, go to our website: www.joebowmanautoplaza.com
