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Should I pay cash for a car through a private seller or should I go to a dealership to buy a used car?

"My friend wants to sell me a used car, but wouldn’t it be safer to buy a used car through a dealership? My friend is selling his car for a fair price and I can afford it, but I don’t know much about cars and don’t want to get stuck with a lemon."

avatar
Johnny Puckett · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Any
used vehicle
, whether bought through a dealership or through a private seller, is a risk.
Unfortunately, used cars do not come with a warranty unless you buy an
extended warranty
. This means that it doesn’t really matter who you buy from; the risk is the same.
Instead of paying a premium to a dealership, have your friend’s car checked by a mechanic and buy it if it all checks out. Also you should always pay cash if you can. No need to pay interest if you don’t have to.”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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