what to check when buying a car on craigslist
Cruising the vehicle ads on Craigslist can be an heart-opening and sometimes overwhelming feel. It tin at times resemble the Wild Westward of digital commerce, but that'due south as well part of its charm. Sellers can be as vague or thorough as they wish with their item descriptions leaving it to y'all to connect the dots before laying downwardly your hard-earned cash. (Very few Craigslist sellers take our communication for selling a car online.) Here are x tips that should assist you dissever fact from fiction and be satisfied with your buy:
one. Narrow your search. Craigslist users have the option of limiting their search to include dealers, private sellers, or both. If y'all're the blazon who prefers the convenience of a one-stop shopping experience, you'll desire to restrict yourself to dealer listings. Often, they can provide in-firm financing options and warranty coverage as well, and eliminate the hassle of scheduling meetings with individual sellers. On the other manus, audacious types who find the chase simply as exciting as the catch might get a kicking out of poring over CL for hours and so driving for two hours to snag the "perfect" vehicle. Withal, the "both" setting can be handy when looking for an older driver car or winter beater, although most dealers tend to stick to belatedly-model iron.
If y'all know exactly which vehicle you want and how much you're willing to pay, CL offers the option of plugging those criteria in right at the top of your search. (To bandage a wider cyberspace, y'all can also use i of the many sites that allow you to search every local Craigslist beyond the country.) Of class, one could fence that a life that doesn't include at least one late-dark transaction involving a Plymouth Duster with sagging leaf springs, live poultry, and Cuban cigars isn't really a life worth living.
2. Size upwards the seller. Information technology's true you tin can't estimate a book past its cover, but the words contained inside can be quite revealing. If the copy reads similar it was hammered out nether duress and is accompanied by a couple of grainy images that resemble depression-res screen grabs from Dark of the Living Dead, information technology's probable something isn't kosher with the bargain. Likewise, sure sellers like to spice up their advertizement with buzzwords and phrases like "air blows cold" and "stops on a dime," which requite little insight to the overall condition of the vehicle. Lesser line: Approximate the vehicle on its ain claim and don't believe the hype.
three. Call showtime. Apply the telephone to your advantage and inquire the big questions earlier yous drive: Are at that place whatever bank check engine lights on? Do you accept the service records? How many owners? This also gives you an opportunity to pick upwardly on the seller's character. Practice they sound composed or sketchy? There'due south nothing worse than carving an hour out of your busy schedule to drive beyond town merely to be greeted past a seller who says, "Well, I was just kinda throwing out a feeler, not sure if I really want to sell it at this point." Of class, if their voice is tinged with the languid drawl or hyperintensity of a narcotics aficionado, there's a skilful chance they're looking for a quick sale—cash talks—so quit reading and starting time buying! We kid, of course.
iv. The meetup. Information technology's generally accepted that information technology's the buyer's responsibility to become to the seller. That said, asking the seller to see yous at a mutually agreeable location is non out of the question; if the seller agrees, make arrangements to meet at a public infinite, preferably one with lots of credible witnesses or foot traffic. A local Cars and Coffee effect is a proficient option, as is the parking lot of the local motorcar-parts shop. Of course, if the vehicle in question is in demand of repair or restoration, yous'll have to visit the car where it sits.
five. A word nigh vans. Few things are every bit creepy and suspicious equally two or more than individuals lurking around an unmarked, windowless lockbox on wheels. (Especially if your meeting place is near a school or government facility.) Nosotros honey vans, too, just discretion is brash.
6. Get an inspection. Be realistic. If the vehicle in question is a Clinton-era relic priced effectually $3K, it'south unreasonable to complain about surface rust or worn upholstery. Take it for a spin, and make sure the primary controls—the accelerator, restriction, and, if applicable, clutch pedal and shifter—all perform every bit they should. The steering and suspension will inevitably evidence their historic period, but overt creaks or clunks likely indicate an impending repair. If you're looking for a late-model daily driver for the spouse to shuttle the kids effectually in—or you're purchasing a archetype—exercise yourself a favor and have it inspected by a reputable store or expert in the brand. A seller with nothing to hide will be more than than agreeable.
7. Negotiate. Everything on Craigslist is negotiable. Even if a seller states that a cost is house, the very nature of Craigslist and its low, depression cost of gratis for the listings encourages ambitious pricing. Haggling as portrayed on television, notwithstanding, where the seller caves afterward a tense fifteen-second negotiation and lets the motorcar go for one-half of the asking price, rarely happens in the real globe. It'southward OK to start depression, simply insulting a seller with an absurdly low number tin can apace sour a deal. To score a good price while retaining a modicum of dignity, try asking the seller what their bottom dollar is and then counter with an offering 15 to 20 percent below that figure; chances are y'all'll be within x percent of the bodily number the owner needs to become the bargain done. Always negotiate in person; the simply thing cheaper than talk is a tactless email or text. One last thing: Seal the bargain with a handshake, as the homo element imparts an air of finality to the deal that merely a true psychopath could ignore.
8. Make sure there's a clean championship. If the title is lost or suspicious take a suspension in the proceedings before you finalize the deal. Straightening out a sketchy registration or championship is possible after you ain the vehicle, but know that the claiming can be daunting. Our communication is that unless the car in question is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, walk. You don't need the hassle. If a bank or financing company still holds the title on a vehicle, inquire the seller to make a phone call to ensure that the championship can exist obtained without undue delay.
9. The exchange. When it comes time to trade light-green for pinkish, consider using your personal depository financial institution. In addition to existence the home turf for your money, banks generally have a notary public on staff who can witness signatures and emboss the bill of sale or other paperwork with their all-important official seal. Building a sound paper trail is a great way to protect yourself in any transaction, so don't be agape to ask the seller to have a certified check if the selling price is more than a couple of grand.
10. The road home. Once the cash and official paperwork have traded hands, information technology's up to you to have immediate possession of the vehicle. Unless previous arrangements accept been fabricated, the seller has every right to await y'all'll be leaving with the vehicle either under its own ability or on the bed of a trailer. Suddenly announcing that you lot need to, ahem, "get my 1974 Ford Ranchero running showtime—you lot know, to make room" won't cut it. If your new purchase is a commuter, buy a pal dinner and have him drop yous off; if you lot're going the trailer route, make arrangements alee of time. Finally, make sure you lot accept all the extra $.25: manuals, records, and spares have a tendency to be left backside. In one case the bargain is done and you and the car are out of sight, the seller has little incentive to runway you downwardly to hand off anything you forgot.
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Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/a15363654/10-tips-for-a-successful-car-buying-experience-on-craigslist/
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