So you’re about to turn 16 and ready to get your permit, but you don’t have a car. You’re looking for your first car, but don’t know where to get it. You have two choices: go to a dealership and finance a car, which requires you to commit to a monthly payment; or to buy from an independent person off of ebay or craigslist, or even off the side of the road, and take a chance that there is something wrong with the car that the person is not telling you about. I interviewed a couple people who have done each.

I interviewed Dylan Taylor from Phoenix NY, who bought his car off the side of the road. According to Dylan, he believes that the best place to get a first car is off somebody you know, or used offline, but says to make sure you check it out properly, and if you don’t know what to look for take someone with you to look at it. He also says that more times than not, the seller is negotiable on the price, especially if you can find something wrong with the vehicle.

I also interviewed Austin Martinez from Auburn NY, who bought his first car from a dealership, to see what his opinion was on the topic. According to Austin, he believes that buying his first car from a dealership was a mistake because he now has a car payment for a used car that is not worth what he owes on it, and still has problems with it even though he bought it from a dealer. He says he would have rather saved up money and bought his car off craigslist or the side of the road.

Austin also states that the dealer wouldn’t be the worst place to buy a first car if you can afford a nice enough car with a warranty.

So, remember if you’re going to buy a used vehicle to check it out well enough, whether you go to a car dealer or not, and if you’re not sure what to look for to take someone that knows what they’re looking for and search around for the best deal on the same vehicle.