Cash transactions with private or third-party sellers are almost always the norm. On the other hand, a car dealership can provide financing options to make the transaction easier and more affordable for you. 

You don't have to pay for the entire car upfront if you finance through a bank or a dealership. There are options available to you. 

When you buy from a dealer, they'll often give you an interest rate lower than what your credit union or bank would offer. That’s because dealerships work with many different lenders who compete for their business. They can provide better rates to get customers into their showrooms. 

In addition, since dealerships deal in higher volumes of cars than most individuals do, they can get better deals from manufacturers. That means savings for consumers like you!

If you’re looking for a specific vehicle or kind of vehicle, it makes sense to look at a dealership. Not only are there more options in terms of selection and availability, but dealerships often have special offers and incentives just for their customers. 

Even if you don’t find what you’re looking for on your first visit, many dealers will save a car for you so that when you come back to look at it, it isn’t off-the-lot yet. You can also use their online sites to search used cars by make, model, year, price range, and location. 

Sites like these also allow you to filter by features like the number of miles or transmission type, which is handy if you know exactly what you want when buying a used vehicle.

Dealers (with the help of professional mechanics) inspect their vehicles to make sure they are safe to drive on the road before putting them on the lot for sale.

That can help reveal any potential flaws with the car, so you don’t find yourself stuck with unexpected expenses after handing over your money. 

Consider asking a potential buyer for proof of regular maintenance and any service records. 

These documents provide valuable information about how well a vehicle has been cared for and what might be coming down the road. It’s also essential to ensure that a certified mechanic inspects it.

It's hard to tell what shape a used vehicle is in. Many private sellers won't provide a vehicle history report or even allow you to take it to a mechanic before buying it.

All dealerships come with an auto service guarantee, though, so if you find something wrong under your manufacturer's warranty within a specific period, they'll fix it at no cost to you.

Dealerships can be a great resource if you're ready to trade in your current vehicle and get a new one. To put it another way, trading in your current vehicle at a car dealer eliminates the first step in your car-buying process selling your car. 

Often, you'll be the one responsible for transferring ownership of your current vehicle to a new owner after you sell it to them. To get a clear picture of the value of your current vehicle, you can trade it in to a dealership, where the dealer can thoroughly inspect it.