How To Buy A Car On Ebay: Auto Transporting And More
Let's say you want a specific make and model of a car
, but you're on a strict budget. You go to the used car dealer in your town, and he laughs at the amount you want to spend. Where to turn next? CraigsList? Think again. That's right: eBay Motors. There's a certain way to go about getting what you want. Here's a how-to for you, the savvy automobile purchaser.1. Don't Worry: Only .001% of eBay transactions result in fraud. Check out the seller's feedback rating. If it's high, chances are he or she is reliable. Click to see what else has been bought from that particular seller. Sometimes merchants sell cheaper items to improve their feedback rating, only to sell expensive items and never send them. Consistency is a good bet.
2. The Car's History: Research your new car. The dealer should provide some information about it, maybe a Carfax report, which lists past accidents or odometer tampering. These reports only cost about $20 if you have the VIN number, and if you want unlimited Carfax reports, pay the extra five bucks and get the VIN numbers for all the cars you're researching.
3. Distance: It helps if you are checking out a car within driving distance so that you can test drive it. If you're not so lucky, check out auto transporting or auto shipping companies, or you can even make the journey yourself, provided that you're ready for a road trip.
4. Paperwork: Don't rely on oral agreements get it in writing. Get the merchant to fax you the title and maintenance records.
5. Read the Fine Print: With the car sold as is, you'll want to take note of any minor scrapes or dents in the sale's terms. If you're going to bid and you don't know the details, you might find yourself in a dilly of a pickle. Bids are binding contracts on eBay, meaning you have to pay.
6. Inspection Time: A third party is a safe bet SGS Automotive Services of Cincinnati has branches throughout the U.S. Inspections are $100 but it's worth it to know you're not buying a lemon.
7. Pay in Credit: When you pay in cash, chances of fraud increase. PayPal and credit cards are the best way to avoid this.
8. Escrow: Disreputable escrow services are everywhere on the Internet. Use escrow.com, recommended by eBay.
9. Double Check: When your car arrives, double check to see the VIN number matches with the one you saw online.
If you follow these tips you shouldn't run into any problems. Know what you want, what's fair, and do your research. Ask questions before you bid, and make contact with the merchant so that he isn't a ghost. eBay also offers a short term service agreement that covers problems one month after the auctions close date or the first 1,000 miles. Cars with more than 125k miles don't count, nor do cars 10 years or older. If any other problem occurs, talk to eBay, though with all the help I've offered, it shouldn't.
by: Mark Etinger