"Ask and ye shall be answered!"

Questions clarify the doubts, leading one to a distinct conclusion. If you have settled a rock-bottom budget for buying a car, a private seller is your only choice. There are three things possible with private sales:

1. You get a better deal for a low price

2. You get what you paid for.

3. You get a bad deal and start regretting

But "fear thou not my friend", I am gonna take you through some basics.

First Thing First - Ask VIN

Call the seller (If you can't meet him) and ask him about the VIN/Rego number and get the car history report checked.

How & Why?

Several online services let you get a PPSR check for a few dollars. Just enter the Rego or VIN number, pay the charges (mostly under $10) and wait for 2 to 3 hours to receive the card history.

&

Because it gives important information about the vehicle you are going to buy, like:

• History of previous owners & current owner

• History of vehicle maintenance

• Remaining debts or instalments (if any)

• Criminal activity (if any)

• Major accidents (if any)

• Repairs and parts replacement

• Damage due to flood

• Status as "Lemon"

• Odometer information

• Last sale

• Model, Year, Make etc 

This information will tell you a lot about the car and you can expect what kind of car you are going to see. Now, you can meet the seller and shoot:

• Why he/she intends to sell the car?

• The accident history, how bad were the accidents?

• Which parts of the car have been replaced?

• Where do you take this car for maintenance?

• Could you show me your service records?

• Have you faced any issues (minor or major) with the car since you bought it?

• Did anyone own the car before you?

• What did you use the car for?

• Is the engine healthy?

If...

The seller and the entitled name in the documents are not the same, don't go for the car.

The car has financial encumbrance, simply walk away.

The engine number in the documents and physically are different, don't buy the vehicle.

There have been a lot of major accidents and the condition of the car is bad, back off from the deal.

The car has been used in any criminal activity (which, a car history report would have mentioned), don't even think about buying it.

The finance company has given the car the titles of "Salvage" or "Rebuilt", it means the car is better of at home instead of bringing it out on the road.

For safety...

Don't just hop in for a test drive with a stranger, ask for his photo ID and send its photo to a friend's email for safety.