How to Barter for a Car
- 1). Decide what you have to offer in exchange for a car. Dealerships often accept trade ins of older vehicles and some jobs will give you a company car in exchange for your services. Private car sellers may be willing to accept a boat or motorcycle as part of the exchange. Decide what you can part with as part of the deal and have those items ready in case a deal is made.
- 2). Locate vehicles that you want to barter for. Classified ads, auto trader magazines and online car sites are all useful in locating sellers who may be willing to barter for a vehicle. A dealership, even a privately owned one, is unlikely to accept anything aside from a trade in car and money, but with private sellers, you never know until you ask.
- 3). Call the sellers that have vehicles you are interested in and ask if they would consider bartering with the items you have to offer in exchange. If they are interested, you can arrange a meeting where you can both inspect the goods the other is offering.
- 4). Research the car by having a mechanic examine it.Check the value in Kelley Blue Book or a similar source and check the VIN number for any title history. You want to ensure the car you're bartering for is worth what you're giving up for it. Verify that the seller is the legal owner of the car as well to prevent fraud.
- 5). Agree to terms with the seller and write up an agreement stating what you are providing in exchange for the vehicle. Dealerships will have their own sales contracts. If you are getting a company car as part of your employment, the agreement shouldn't be necessary but you need an agreement in writing with any private sellers.
- 6). Exchange your goods and get the title signed over for the car.
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