There's a good chance you'll have opportunities to buy automobiles throughout your life. If you're like a lot of Canadians, you'll consider used cars because they're often more affordable. There are several reasons to get that kind of vehicle from a dealership rather than a private seller.
The Dealership Probably Has a Quality-Check Process
Dealerships frequently put every vehicle through an intensive testing process to ensure it's road worthy. In contrast, a private seller probably won't do that. Instead, you'll just have to go off of his or her word when learning things about when maintenance was last performed, what was done to the car and whether everything seems in working order.
You Can Form a Long-Term Relationship With a Trustworthy Dealer
Usually, dealerships don't just sell used cars. They also service vehicles and provide parts for them. That means once you buy a vehicle from a dealership you trust, you'll theoretically have a place to go whether your car needs a new timing belt or just an oil change. If you purchase a car from a private seller, you won't have the same kinds of resources to rely upon throughout the time you own your car.
Get a Chance to Try Many Cars at Once
When meeting a private seller to go for a test drive, you usually just get behind the wheel of the car you're interested in purchasing. However, a dealership may have dozens of makes and models on a single lot. Then, you can possibly drive several cars within one day to see which vehicles you like best, rather than going through the time-consuming process of test driving one at a time as you visit private sellers.
These are just a few reasons why many Canadians decide to purchase their used cars from dealerships instead of private individuals. Hopefully the information will help you feel more informed as you go vehicle shopping.