5 Reasons Why Buying From a Dealership is Safer Than Buying Privately

If you’re looking to buy a used Ford for sale near Saratoga Springs, there are plenty of ways that you can go about it. You can scour the web, drive to various dealers around town, or even keep an eye out for old-fashioned fliers taped to lampposts and billboards. However, all of these options can be boiled down to two basic categories: buying from a traditional dealer or buying from a private seller.

If you’ve been researching the pros and cons of each option, you’ve probably already heard that it’s possible to get a better deal from a private seller since they don’t have as much overhead as a dealership. However, that’s only a possibility, and in order to shoot for it, you have to take on some substantial risk. To help you better understand your options, let’s take a look at five reasons why buying from a dealer is the safer way to play it.

An Expert Has Vetted Your Options

When you buy a car from a random citizen of Saratoga Springs, you often don’t know much about the person you’re working with. Maybe they’re an automotive enthusiast, or maybe they’re just looking to get some quick cash for their beater. A private seller who doesn’t know much about cars might have the best of intentions. They may be completely honest with you, and they could still sell you a vehicle with a ticking time bomb of a problem just waiting to ruin your day a few weeks down the road. You can always get a car vetted by a third-party mechanic before you agree to buy, but that’s going to cost you time and money. If a major flaw is discovered, you’ll be back to square one with your search for a car.

Here at DePaula Ford, you can browse with confidence, knowing that every single option in our used inventory has undergone a 139-point comprehensive inspection. This inspection is completed by a certified technician who has plenty of experience working with a variety of vehicles and knows exactly what to look for. If we do find problems, we can either send the car to auction to keep it out of our inventory or fix it up in our state-of-the-art reconditioning center to make it as good as new and ready to serve you well out on the road.

You’re Protected by Warranty Coverage

Once you complete a private sale, you take full responsibility for the vehicle you’ve purchased. If it develops a problem the day after money and the title have changed hands, you’re almost certainly out of luck. If the seller made any false guarantees in writing, then you might have a basis for legal action (at your own expense, of course), but otherwise, you’ll probably just have to deal with the issue yourself.

Dealerships, on the other hand, offer warranty coverage. If you buy a used vehicle from us, for example, you’ll have a Comprehensive Limited Warranty for the first 90 days or 4,000 miles of ownership. If a problem arises during this period, you won’t have to deal with it on your own or call a lawyer. You can just bring it to our service department, which is conveniently located a short drive south of Saratoga Springs.

You Can Take a Test Drive in Peace

Before you commit to buying a car, you want to be sure you know a lot about it. Some of that can be learned through an online posting, like the make, model, year, mileage, and included features. But pictures only tell you so much. To make sure you’re getting a vehicle you’re going to be happy with, you’ll want to see it for yourself, kick the tires, and make sure that you take it out for a test drive to get a feel for how it drives.

A safe test drive is no easy feat with a private seller. You need to be cautious to protect yourself from potential bad actors. Pick a public place in Saratoga Springs where you feel comfortable meeting, go with a friend or family member to have some backup, and stick to safe streets during the drive itself. On the flip side, the seller might be equally nervous about letting a stranger drive their car and might need some collateral or other assurances to make sure you aren’t planning a heist.

At a dealership, we do test drives every day, and we know how to keep everyone safe while they’re being conducted. The dealership itself is a public place with plenty of people around, and you don’t have to worry about any nefarious behavior. On top of that, you don’t have to coordinate schedules with someone trying to fit a meetup into a work schedule that might not be compatible with yours. You can come by any time during our operating hours that works for you. You can even schedule a test drive ahead of time to make sure that you’ll get quick service at a time that works for you.

Regulations and Reputation Keep Dealerships Honest

When you buy a car from a private seller, you’re not working with much of a safety net. Most of the things keeping a stranger from lying to you or outright scamming you are intangible, like basic human decency. While legal action is a deterrent in theory, many bad actors know that it’s expensive and complicated enough that it’s far from a solid threat. It’s sadly easy for a scam artist to take your money and practically disappear, never to be held accountable for their actions.

Dealerships, on the other hand, aren’t going to be gone with the wind after your purchase is finalized. If you feel that you’ve been cheated, there are lemon laws and other regulations that are in place to help you get recourse, though no dealer wants it to come to that. Our business is built on good relationships with drivers, and we don’t want to leave anyone with a sour taste in their mouth. If you have a problem, there’s a good chance that you can simply talk it out with us and come to a solution that works for everyone.

You Can Check the Vehicle History for Free

No matter how you’re buying a used car, you’ll want to make sure you research the car’s history. Certain types of accidents can leave a car damaged beyond repair, and neglectful owners can leave a mark on a vehicle, too. If you’re working with a stranger, you’d be wise to take their work with a grain of salt since they have a vested interest in making you think the car has no skeletons in its closet. However, getting a vehicle history report from a trusted third party like CARFAX isn’t free. Paying for the report can eat into the savings you’re hoping to get from a private purchase. If you find a major problem in the report, you won’t be getting a refund.

When you shop with us, you’ll have a very different experience. Without even leaving your home in Saratoga Springs, you can browse our inventory here on our website, and you’ll see a big button that says “Show me the CARFAX” under every model. Click that button, and you’ll be taken to a free vehicle history report that tells you everything you need to know. You can compare your options before you commit or even before you visit the dealership. In addition, we will provide you with a free internal vehicle history report conducted by our expert team. We’re always working hard to help you make an informed decision so you’ll be happy with your choice in the long run and come back to work with us next time you’re ready to upgrade to another model.