Which is a better deal: buying a car from a public auction or buying a car from an individual?

Question

I have heard that you can find great deals using either method.

Answer 1

Dealer. Think about it. A dealer has safety inspected and repaired the vehicle. The vehicle has been smogged and the dealer handles all DMV work.

You have recourse with the dealer where there is no going back to a private party.

Answer 2

If u buy it at a auction, u will get the best deal, but check it out real good or get a auction guaruntee, but private owners often want way more than the cars worth, the blue book will give u an idea but u are going to want to pay way less than the book value

Answer 3

In both cases, you take your chances. If there is something wrong with the vehicle you cannot return it for repairs or get your money back.
You can also pay too much, either way, if you don't know in advance what a vehicle is worth.
The best thing to do is decide what car you want. Find out what it is worth at www.edmunds.com or www.vehix.com. Then do a search of used cars for sale. You then know what you want and how much you are willing to pay before buying.

Answer 4

Are you looking to buy for yourself, or to resale?

Typically, you can buy for a lesser dollar amount at an auction, but most public auctions do not offer guarantees, and everything is sold AS IS, WHERE IS.

Many private sellers want top dollar for their cars, but are open to negotiations, especially if they are motivated to get rid of the vehicle.

Always know what the value of a car is upfront, go to http://www.kbb.com , and check the Trade-IN Value of a car, that gives you the true cash value of it.

Answer 5

I have bought many cars both ways and I prefer to buy cars from private individuals, but what ever you decide and if you can take a mechanic with you that you trust.