Dealer Vs. Individual: Which Should You Choose When Buying A Used Semi-Truck?
Posted on: 6 January 2017
If you are thinking about buying a semi-truck -- whether you are shopping as an owner-operator or if you are looking to add another truck to the fleet for your trucking company -- then you might have started shopping around and looking at the various trucks that are available. One thing that you might be curious about is whether you should buy your used truck from an individual -- such as someone who is an owner-operator himself or herself and who is looking to get rid of an old truck after upgrading -- or if you should buy from a dealership that sells used semi-trucks. These are a few things that you should know about each.
Buying from an Individual
As someone who owns your own business as well, it might seem nice to work with an individual who is looking to sell a truck versus working with a big dealership. Additionally, if you have credit challenges, you might find that you can purchase a used semi-truck with owner financing a lot more easily than you would be able to finance through a dealership. However, if you do choose to take this route for financing, you might find that rates and fees are a whole lot higher on the loan. Additionally, it can be challenging to find an individual who actually has the semi-truck that you want.
Buying from a Used Semi-Truck Dealership
When buying from a used semi-truck dealership, you can often choose between many more makes and models. In fact, even if you don't find the truck that you want, someone from the dealership might be willing to find your ideal truck for you. You may have to have better credit in order to secure a loan when buying a truck from a dealership, but you'll also generally be able to choose from more borrowing options, and you may be able to secure a better interest rate as well. Additionally, you should know that a dealership has a reputation to uphold when it comes to selling good-quality used semi-trucks, while an individual might not be as concerned about it getting out that he or she unloaded a "lemon" onto you.
There are benefits to both types of buying when it comes to purchasing a semi-truck. Consider checking with a dealership like Arrow Truck Sales that specializes in selling used semi-trucks. If you don't find one that you like or if you'd like to try another shopping experience, you may want to start looking around for someone who is selling his or her big rig on his or her own.
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