How to buy a car from private seller online cross country

[buzz77]

Hey guys, Like the title says, looking on advice on how one goes about this. For example here on this forum someone lists a car on the for sale subforum. How does cash exactly change hands without getting ripped off? You would probably find a mechanic to inspect the car, but after that what is the process.
How have some of you fellas bought cars out of state. And those that have sold cars advertising classic cars in nationwide sites, how do you expect the process to go to assure both buyer and seller doesnt get ripped off?
thanks!

 

[MrSony]

Only way is to go there and pick it up. That's really the only conceivable way to not get screwed.

 

[pontiacgp]

after you get it inspected you can use a service like this to make sure you get what you paid for

https://www.escrow.com/

 

[mikester]

I drove to WV for my 81. The wagon was different. I had a friend in NC that was a couple of hours away from where it was in TN go look at it for me. As far as the money, I had the guy in TN go to his bank. I transfered the money from my bank to his. He signed the title over at the bank and the woman at his bank had it sent to my house by FedEx overnight. Then I made arrangements to have the car shipped up to my house.

 

[Texas82GP]

I guess I was pretty naive. I talked to the seller about the car for about an hour. He seemed like an honest guy. I mailed him a money order and arranged shipping for the car. He sent the title via FedEx and helped load the car on the truck when it got to his house.

I'm told you can pay with a postal money order, and that it provides protection since commiting fraud in a transaction where one is used is a felony. I don't know if that is true or not.

You could use Paypal, but there will be a fee.

My advice after having done it, if you can't go look at the car, don't buy it.

 

[L92 OLDS]

I thought I would never buy a car online but recently had a great experience on E bay and would do it again provided the right conditions. I used e snipe (automated on line bidding tool) on a no reserve auction that ended at 3 am. The dealer that set up the auction obviously didn't know what they were doing and started with a very low price. I ended up buying the car at less than half of KBB retail value. Upon winning the auction, a $500 deposit was required with full payment at time of inspection and pickup in Florida. My maximum bid left enough margin to cover any surprises. I called the dealer where the vehicle was purchased new and was able to get the full service record along with the Carfax. I bought a one way ticket to Orlando and upon pickup there were no surprises other than a missing On star Antenna (a $20 part) and while the tires where new they were a crappy Chinese tire with horrible wet traction. Overall it was accurately described in the auction. I've driven the vehicle for 6 years and could still sell it for more than I paid....

 

[thunderball]

i wouldnt buy a car without viewing it personally.

 

[TURNA]

 

[ck80]

Well, ive bought the following sight unseen online:

A 12000 mile Mercedes from the new car dealer, certified pre owned through ebay... no issues as you might expect - pay deposit, fly out, drive home.

Also did a 3000 mile mustang, had lots of pics and it was through a dealer so paid my deposit, rented a car one-way, drove out to Charlotte from Atlanta and drove the mustang home...

A fairly rough c10 on ebay, ran/drove, paid the $350bid price (paypal) and the seller drove it over to me. One of those price can't go wrong deals.

Actually, let's place a couple regals, a cutlass, and 2 s10 blazers in that category too... at under $500, who cared? Not enough money to get nervous about.

Most of the other cars I've bought online I always take the approach that no matter what pics or seller says, there's going to be about $400-1000 in work I'd like to be done better, can't see, or nobody looked close enough to find before listing. Then I make sure my offer takes that, and costs to get it home, into account.

Usually I drive the cars home, BUT, even when I have them shipped/towed I ALWAYS fly/drive out to the car before paying the full price in person. Just build the $200-400 price of the ticket into your offer.

That way, even if you have it shipped, nobody can claim "it was like that when we picked it up" because you were there to film a walk around around loading

 

[buzz77]

This is all good advice. To me the logistics and timing I find perplexing. How do ou drive a car hone after flying out to see it without plates? When did you have the opportunity to put insurance on it, if you drove it home at time of flying out to see it?
In NYS you need registration, to get that you need to fill out paperwork and have bill of sale on hand at DMV office.