What should I know before buying a car on eBay motors?

Question

...please be as thorough as possible. Thank you.

...please don't just mention "it's not entirely safe". I already know that. There's obviously a risk, just like there is a risk to everything potentialy rewarding.

Answer 1

You should perform the same "due dilligence" with an eBay purchase that you would perform if the car were being sold locally. That means that you should go to the seller and personally inspect the vehicle and its documentation prior to finalizing the deal. You should run a CarFax report and have an independant inspection by a qualified mechanic.

If you cannot travel to the seller's location to personally inspect the vehicle, you should probably not go forward with the deal. It may be possible to have an inspection by a reputable third-party firm but nothing substitutes for a personal inspection. If you go the inspection route, NEVER use the seller's recommendation for the inspector; locate one yourself. (Of course, if the seller balks and any of these inspections, run don't walk away from the deal.)

It's also a good idea to contact the police and have them run a stolen vehicle check -- both your local police department and the police in the seller's area.

Answer 2

I can personally tell you from experience! I recently bought an 01 lexus off ebay. The seller stated in the auction and over the phone that the car runs great and the body was great and just needed to de detailed and cleaned a little. He also stated on the phone and in writing on the auction that the car had recently had the transmission rebuilt. I paid 9k for the car plus another thousand to get it shipped form Cali to texas. When i got the car and first drove it, i put in in drive and immediately noticed the transmission had kicked super hard! While driving home on the highway i noticed the car jerking through gears very hard and it would also downshift very weirdly! Half way home the oil pressure light came on, i panicked and pulled over thinking this car probably has no oil. I checked the oil and it was ok. I drove it home and took a closer look at it. The car also had a bunch of dents in it that were not mentioned. I took the car to get looked at and the estimate was 4 thousand for a used transmission through lexus. I called the seller who told me the transmission had warranty, i had it looked up through Lexus and it showed the transmission had been replaced twice and was not covered since the last transmission installed was a used transmission installed at the request of the sellers extended warranty service. I called the extended warranty service who said the warranty had just expired 1 thousand miles ago. (now seems obvious why the car was being sold to avoid pricey transmission repairs). I called the seller who kept giving me the run around and new numbers to try calling who may have warranty on it. After two weeks of nothing i filed for ebays buyer protection insurance. It took about a month of sending in various paperwork and more run arounds with the seller insisting the car had warranty but was unable to provide documentation of it. Finally after a month i received a check from ebay's buyer protection insurance for $4,000. Never again will i buy a car off ebay UNLESS i personally inspect it in person before purchasing. It was too much hassle and loss of time without a vehicle! I would say make sure you at LEAST have the buyer protection insurance which is offered free of charge on certain vehicles.

Answer 3

Being such a large investment It's beyond me how anybody in their right mind will buy a used car through a public auction without an independent inspection or test drive.

I have purchased thousand of vehicles prior to being retired at dealer auctions with only visual inspection for dents scratches and overspray without a test drive but if there was a mechanical problem that was not disclosed at time of bidding it would be returned to auction hazzle free, the difference between a dealer auction and public auction is like night and day.

Go to my website http://www.usedcartips.org/ and navigate to public auctions for a better understanding what I think about public auctions. I like the reply you got from ENDITY .

Answer 4

give up you're actually not paying for a automobile by way of eBay autos You got here across the vehicle on a clssified internet site like Craigslist the seller has a protracted tale approximately his 'unique' difficulty - soldier foreign places, divorce, etc advertising the vehicle far greater low-fee than he could offering to pay for delivery provided that its no the place close to you utilising "ebay autos" to attend to the sale (hes no longer, its a rip-off) offering you an inspection era to refuse the vehicle and get an entire refund this could be a properly familiar rip-off. all the purple flegs could have instructed you so.

Answer 5

You need to know what is wrong with it and if money is still owed on it. I think there is a site called RAMS where you can find out about the latter. Get a mechanic buddy to check it over before you bid.

Answer 6

how far is the car away from you what will it cost you to get the car home what all do you have to get the car registered when you get it home will it pass your state laws and so no