by Andrew Rohrlich
Advances in technology and digital platform have opened up many new avenues to buy cars. You no longer have to rely on local newspaper ads or drive around town looking for "for sale" signs if you want to buy a car from a private party. You can simply go online to find the car you're looking for through large online marketplaces such as Autotrader's private sales platform.
Autotrader is a vehicle selling and buying website that has gained popularity over the years, cementing itself as one of the most well-established and recognized companies in the industry. So what are the advantages of Autotrader, and how can you use Autotrader's private sales website to find the perfect used vehicle? Read on to find out.
Autotrader's Advantages for Private Party Car Buyers
Autotrader private party car sales and purchases are easy through the website, which offers many advantages for private party car buyers, such as:
- Enormous marketplace with plenty of inventory
- Informative articles and research tools
- Protects user privacy by respecting CCPA rights and not asking for personal or financial information, including monitoring browser activity
- Offers many unique features such as Test Drive at Home, Local Home Delivery, Price Badging, Instant Cash Offer, and more.
It's no wonder that Autotrader is one of the most respected vehicle buying and selling websites on the market. So how can you take advantage of these benefits and buy a used car from Autotrader?
10 Steps To Buying a Car Privately on Autotrader
There are eight easy awareness tips you can follow to make the Autotrader private sales process easy and worry-free.
1. Research and Decide on the Type Of Vehicle You Want
When purchasing from a platform that offers private vehicle sales, it's important to do your research. Thankfully, you can use Autotrader as a research tool. The main menu includes a section called "Car Research & Tools", which helps you search through the best deals, answers questions about buying cars online, and provides the latest news and reviews about different vehicles.
Once you've done your research, you can decide what type of vehicle you want. The more specific you are about the model, specs, features, and more, the easier it'll be to find the car of your choice.
2. Set a Realistic Budget
It's always best to have a realistic budget, especially when you're purchasing online. Determine the maximum amount you're willing to pay as well as the minimum amount. This will help you narrow down your choices and avoid disappointment.
If you own a car that you want to sell, Autotrader's private sales platform features an instant quote program to tell you how much your car is worth. Even if you don't trade in as you would at a dealership, you can simply take the cash that Autotrader offers you. You can include the price in your budget to plan ahead.
3. Search and Filter Your Results for the Best Deals on Autotrader
It's always good practice to look around online to find the best deal. One of the best features of Autotrader is its extensive search features and filtering options. Inputting this important information can help you find the exact car you want.
The home page has an easy-to-use search function that allows you to narrow your choices by make, model, and your desired zip code. Once you input that initial information, you can filter with other criteria such as:
- Vehicle of model year
- Distance from your zip code
- Condition
- Drive type
- Minimum price and maximum price, or max payment
- Mileage
- Body style
- Fuel type
- Fuel economy
- Interior and exterior color
- Transmission
- Vehicle accident and owner history
- At-home services (video walkaround, online paperwork, test drive, and delivery)
- Cylinders
- Interior, exterior, technological, and safety features
- Price rating
- Make
- Doors
- Seller type
4. Read Descriptions and Examine Pictures Closely
As you're looking through your different options, make sure you're paying close attention to the descriptions and pictures. Take your time to read the entire listing and carefully study the pictures. You can even perform a reverse image search if necessary to ensure the photos are legit.
Autotrader's listings include various pictures of the interior and exterior of the vehicles, as well as important information such as mileage, interior and exterior color, engine type, drive type, and fuel economy. They even calculate your estimated monthly payments through an on-page auto loan calculator. Closely read this information and make notes of any questions or concerns you may have.
5. Find the Car You Like and Reach Out To Verify Seller and Vehicle
Once you've narrowed down your options to the car that best fits your needs, it's time to reach out to the seller.
Autotrader private owners go through a structured identification process, so you can rest assured that you're in good hands. However, it's still best to verify each of the private sellers and the vehicles yourself.
You can prepare questions about the vehicle, why they're selling it, and more. You can also ask for the VIN (vehicle identification number) to check the vehicle history.
6. Personally Inspect the Car If Possible
It's important to inspect the vehicle thoroughly before you purchase. If the seller lives close enough to you, you can schedule a time to conduct a personal inspection and a test drive. You may also choose to take the vehicle to a licensed auto mechanic for a full inspection.
If the car you want is too far away for you to do an inspection in person, you can take advantage of Autotrader's video walkaround feature, which lets you schedule a video chat with the seller and get a virtual tour of the vehicle.
7. Negotiate the Price of the Vehicle
It's always best to negotiate rather than accept a price upfront, especially for used vehicles. If you find anything that lowers the car's value during your virtual or in-person inspection, don't hesitate to bring it up and negotiate until you agree on a price that's acceptable to you and the seller. You can check the Kelley Blue Book value and research the car's price range on other platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
One of the best features included with Autotrader private sales is the Price Badging feature, which scans thousands of listings in real-time and uses Kelley Blue Book to rate the price the buyer gave you on a scale of fair, good, above average, and great.
8. Determine Financing and Payment
If you agree on the price for the new vehicle, openly discuss how you will pay it with the seller. You can use a third-party car escrow service to protect yourself and your funds.
If you are considering financing with an auto loan, it's best to get pre-approval from the financial institution. Autotrader also includes financing comparisons to help you make your decision.
9. Manage Appropriate Paperwork and Title Transfer
Once you've worked out your payment and agreed to purchase the car, congratulations are in order! You now own your new vehicle. There are still a few steps involved in a vehicle transfer before you're good to drive, though, like handling paperwork, transferring the vehicle title, and registering for new or transferred license plates.
The paperwork can seem confusing, but it's not all that complicated once you know what you're doing. Requirements vary by state, but you'll typically need several different documents to get your registration and license plates for your new vehicle:
- Driver's license
- Completed title and tag application
- Bill of sale
- Proof of insurance
- Vehicle title: A legal document proving ownership of a vehicle.
- Odometer disclosure(s): A legal document signed by you and the seller stating that the odometer reading at the time of sale is current, true, and correct. According to odometer disclosure requirements, the seller needs to provide the documents with the bill of sale.
It is important to write clearly in legible handwriting so there are no issues once you get to the DMV. Include important identifying information like your legal names as well as all pertinent vehicle information.
Autotrader makes the transfer process easy. Once you're ready to buy the car, you can sign the purchase documents through an e-document. A third-party company authenticates the documents to ensure they're legally binding.
10. Make Plans for Safe Delivery
Once you've hammered out all the details, it's time to set up your car delivery. Though getting your car delivered when purchasing online may seem complicated, Autotrader makes it easy. Autotrader's private sales process includes a local home delivery feature called Dealer Home Services that allows the seller to deliver the car to you and even test drive it for no additional fee.
It's always important to be safe when you're meeting for a car delivery. You should meet in a public location with plenty of people, such as a department store parking lot. It's always best to bring someone you trust with you and to meet in the daytime instead of the evening or nighttime.
Close Your Private Party Car Sale With Caramel
Autotrader offers many excellent features that make searching for a car online easy and stress-free. You can enjoy peace of mind as you enjoy your "new" used car.
This article was written by Andrew Rohrlich. As a brand and product marketing expert, Andrew Rohrlich has crafted products, experiences and communications for household names like Gap and for multiple automotive technology businesses. For nearly a decade Andrew has studied automotive retail in depth from a customer point of view and aggregated the industry’s best research, thought leadership and know how to provide credible and important information to auto shoppers and sellers.
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