There are three primary reasons why buying from a private seller is often a better option than buying from a dealer.

1. More inventory. There are more used cars available from private sellers than from dealers, meaning you have more selection.
2. Better value. Dealers need to buy low and sell high to stay in business. On average, you’ll get a better deal by cutting out the middleman. What’s more, dealers often charge “documentation fees” that further inflate your out-of-pocket costs.
3. Quality. Many private-sale cars are being sold by first-time owners. This means you’re buying from someone who knows the vehicle’s history and has hopefully maintained the car well. Dealers, in contrast, usually have little connection to the vehicles they sell.

We’ll admit that dealerships can add some convenience to certain aspects of the transaction process. Traditionally, private-party car sales have been rather complicated. That’s why we created PrivateAuto. We give you dealer-like convenience in the palm of your hand, so you can get a private-party transaction done from beginning to end.