How to Buy a Car From a Seller

If you are buying a car from a private seller, the process is slightly different than buying from a new or used car dealer. The main difference is that you cannot get financing through a seller. Instead, you must already have financing or have the money available to pay for the purchase of the car. Other than financing, you will find the car-buying process to be almost identical when buying from a private seller.

Instructions

1

Look for private sellers advertising cars for sale in your area by browsing the local newspaper classified ads, Craigslist and any other local bulletin board-style listings.

2

Contact the seller when you find a vehicle for sale that you are interested in looking at. Typically the contact method will be a phone number. When you make the call, you can ask any questions you may have about the vehicle and set up a time to look at it.

3

Check the value of the vehicle before you go look at it so that you are prepared to negotiate the price. You can check the value on sites such as Kelley Blue Book, NADA Guides and Edmunds websites.

4

Inspect the vehicle when you arrive to meet the seller because cars are generally sold as-is, which means that if you find a problem with the car after you buy it there is no recourse available for you. You may be most interested in seeing if the car is clean, what the mileage is, if it has any dents or looks as if it was wrecked. You may want to have your mechanic take a look at the car to make sure it has no major mechanical problems. The seller should also allow you to test drive the vehicle so that you can see how it drives.

5

Negotiate the price with the seller if you are not happy with the asking price. You can use the value amount you got online as your guide for negotiating. Once you agree on a price with the seller, you can pay for the vehicle. Usually you can pay by check, money order or cash when buying from a private seller.

6

Ask to see the title of the vehicle before making payment for the car. Confirm that the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the car, which can usually be found on the inside of the driver side door. Also confirm that the name on the title matches that on the drivers license of the seller. If everything checks out, you can proceed.

7

Fill out a bill of sale with the seller, which should be provided by the seller, and the title. In some states, the Department of Motor Vehicles requires that the bill of sale be notarized. You can check with your state DMV to find out the requirements for your state. The Nevada DMV website has links for the sites of all 50 states.