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Aug 26, 2022

Used Car Dealership in Ontario vs. a Private Seller: Making the Safe Choice

If you’re looking for used cars for sale, you can visit used car lots or try to buy privately. There might be some deals with private sellers, but the risk isn’t worth it. Working with your used car dealership in Ontario is the safer, faster, and better choice. 

Safety Concerns

The Buying Process

When you start contacting private sellers, you’ll quickly discover what anyone who has shopped the classifieds and online marketplaces knows well: people can be odd. The internet is full of web pages offering tips on how to stay safe when you buy from sites like Craigslist, and there’s a reason for that. 

Suppose you buy from a used car dealer. In that case, you know you’re meeting in a professional environment and talking with a skilled salesperson. And when you choose John Elway’s Crown Toyota, you’re dealing with a business that cares about the community.

The Driving Experience

When you buy a car from a private seller, the safety concerns don’t stop at the moment of the transaction. You also have to worry about the safety of the vehicle itself. If something goes wrong at high speed on the highway because a private seller lied about their maintenance and service history, there’s little you can do. 

When you buy from a dealer, you have guarantees. At Crown Toyota, our certified used vehicles undergo rigorous inspection, have a CarFax report, and come with a warranty. 

Speed and Efficiency

Buying from a private seller might seem like it should be fast, but it can be a prolonged and challenging process. Once you see a vehicle, you have to discuss the history, see if the owner will let you test drive it, and maybe even negotiate for a mechanic to take a look. If you don’t like that car, you must travel to another place to see a different one. 

Once you have purchased the vehicle, you must do all the paperwork to ensure the title is correctly transferred and the car is registered and tagged. Things go much quicker at the dealership, and there are always plenty of quality used cars to explore so you can take your time. 

A Better Choice

Buying from a dealership is just an overall better experience. There are plenty of vehicles to look at in one place, a comfortable showroom to sit and chat with your partner, family, or a sales rep, and someone who can answer questions about the ins and outs of any vehicle you’re considering.

You can also apply for financing at the dealership, which allows you to afford higher trims or a more expensive car than you could get if you had to pay for it all in cash. Even if you can afford to pay cash, you might prefer just to make a down payment and pay it off in increments to avoid draining your rainy-day fund. That’s not an option with a private seller. 

Visit us at Crown Toyota when looking for a new or used car. We have great deals on quality vehicles, a financing department ready to work with you, and a service center that will keep your vehicle running great for as long as you own it.