If you're in the market for a new vehicle, one place to start your search might be browsing Craigslist cars for sale by owner. There can be great deals on the site, but there can also be problems and risks.
Rather than taking chances and hoping for the best, you can try some simple tips to make your search for the best cars on Craigslist easier. Here are four top tips you should consider to reduce the risk of buying Craigslist cheap cars.
1. Set up alerts and saved searches
Especially if you're looking for something unique or specific, alerts are a great way to find what you want. With these alerts, you can be notified whenever something that meets your criteria is listed. This can give you an edge over other potential buyers, as rare or hard-to-find cars often sell quickly.
You can also save your searches so you don't have to spend time and effort entering information every time you check the site. Saved searches let you easily see what's new for those search terms and parameters. If there's something interesting, you'll probably find it faster. Note that this depends on the seller's specification, which is not always accurate.
2. Do your research before you buy
When considering searching Craigslist cars for sale by owner, you need to do your research on the types of cars you are interested in. Remember, the salesperson is not there to help you. They are there to sell the car and make money. If you haven't done your research and are relying on them to give you good, accurate information, you may be in trouble.
Once you've narrowed down the types of vehicles you're looking for, it's easy to do your research on what it should sell for, what kinds of features to consider, and other details. You should also know if the car, truck or SUV you want has been recalled. Overall, good research is hard to beat when choosing Craigslist cars for sale by owner.
3. Take a really long, hard look at the car
Make an appointment to view the car and don't buy it without taking a good look at it. If possible, bring a mechanic with you. Also take a floor jack and an OBDII reader (if the car is 1996 or newer). You can get under the car and check for leaks and other issues and see if the reader is returning any codes.
Can it handle the right acceleration on the approach? Does it stop quickly when the traffic light turns yellow? Are there any dash lights, hesitation, steering problems, or other problems? It can be helpful to have a checklist so you can spot problems before you buy.
4. Be prepared to negotiate with the seller
The biggest and most important tip for choosing Craigslist cars for sale by owner is to always be prepared to negotiate. Make a list of the problems you found on the car so you can review them with the dealer. Find out how much it will cost you to fix these issues so you can work towards a lower price.
While some sellers won't be open to negotiation, you have valid points if you find something wrong with the car. If you've done your research, you'll also know what the vehicle should actually sell for and whether or not the seller is asking for a fair price of Craigslist cheap cars.
Conclusion
If you use these four tips and take the time to actually find and view all the Craigslist cars for sale by owner that interest you, you'll have a better chance of finding a quality vehicle that fits your specific needs.
The goal is of course to get the lowest possible price. But a fair approach to a dealer who knows their vehicle's value is usually essential—especially to a dealer who's also done their research and knows what they've got.
