About Buying on Craigslist
Craigslist.com is a low pressure way to shop for a used car. It is possible to find a large number of private sellers close to you who want to sell their cars directly to other consumers.
Other People Are Reading
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Research
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Before going car shopping on Craigslist.com, do research. Know what makes and models of vehicle that are of interest, and know what they're worth. Use the Kelley Blue Book (see Resources). The Blue Book will provide the retail price range. Armed with this knowledge, it is much easier to know what ads are legitimate and which are not.
Shopping
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Craigslist.com has a search function that allows users to search by car make, model and price range, so there is no need to scroll through all of the ads that appear on the site. Some of the ads are from used car dealers, who want potential customers to visit their car lots, but many ads are from individuals looking to sell vehicles. An ad has the seller's preferred method of contact. It is up interested buyers to contact the seller and arrange to see the vehicle.
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Ettiquette
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When contacting a private seller about buying a car, make sure you are polite and don't waste the seller's time. Read the ad thoroughly and know where the car is located before calling the seller. Finding the perfect car is fruitless if it is on the other side of the country. It will be frustrating for both the potential buyer and the seller if the buyer asks many questions that are answered in the online ad. Also, be aware of whether a seller is open to negotiating on price or not. If a seller lists a price as "firm," then negotiating will likely be a waste of time. However, the three letters "OBO," standing for "Or Best Offer" after a price mean the seller is open to negotiation.
Benefits
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The main benefit of car shopping on Craigslist.com is the sheer volume of cars available. It is possible to compare prices and options of similar cars side by side without leaving the house. Instead of having to go from dealership to dealership or leaf through pages of classified ads, everything is in one place.
Another benefit is that the ads are constantly updated. If there are no cars of a particular make and model available, just check back in a day.
Considerations
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Buying a used car can be fraught with peril. There are unscrupulous sellers who will present deals that are too good to be true, both in person and online. The first rule of buying a car is that if a deal sounds even a little too good to be true, it probably is. It should go without saying that purchasing a car based on pictures of it on Craigslist.com would be unwise. Inspect and drive the car. Also, get the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN number) and do a VIN check at Carmax.com. This will show if the car has been in any accidents or had any other sort of damage. A honest seller will admit to accidents or damage up front, but some will not.
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Resources
- Photo Credit N Cain
