How to buy a car from private seller online cross country

[Clutch]

You call the local DMV first if it's a private seller most States have temporary registration for this reason if it's a dealer they give you a temporary plate and insurance is just a phone call and they E-mail you a temporary card that adds the car to your existing policy

 

[L92 OLDS]

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.

Dealers they take care of the registration and insurance is a phone call. If buying on line make only a deposit and pay in full after inspection. If no registration, most states allow you to drive the car with title and bill of sale in hand without penalty at least until you get it home. I would do it again and avoid buying from dealers in my area (West Michigan). There is money here so local dealers are less willing to deal. I find they charge 5-10% more than other areas and cars are exposed to salt.

 

[ck80]

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.

I'll answer out of order because it'll make more sense.

Typically, as soon as there was an "I'll take it" moment I added it to my former insurance carrier. It would allow me to do this entirely online. My current policy has a "newly acquired vehicle" rider/provision. Basically, any newly purchased vehicle is automatically covered for up to 30 days from date of sale mirroring the broadest coverage of any vehicle on my policy. So now I simply pull up a copy of my declarations page, show the rider provision and bill of sale, I'm good.

As far as driving home, depends on where you are buying and where you live. 99% of my purchases come from locations I show purchase paperwork, my insurance from above, and for a nominal fee ($20, $50, ??) I get either a temporary tag or what is called an in transit tag and drive it.

All of that, of course, doesn't usually take more than an hour or two, sometimes a little longer, just depends on the state and location

 

[airboatgreg]

There are companies out there that will send an inspector to look at car which I would do. Pre-purchase inspection. I did several over the years and took a lot of pics and did a long narrative based on my experience regarding the car, issues and condition. As I had no skin in the game I could give an honest evaluation. Paypal is good and transport if you research is not too crazy. In my state you have insurance when you purchase but it may be at your lowest coverage amount as on your other cars. Call your agent as classic cars are a whole new genre.
Look at feedback and research seller.

 

[Clutch]

See if a member on here lives near the car I just went and looked at a Malibu wagon for someone and sent him a bunch of pictures of the bad points and based on my pictures he didn't want the car base your trust in said person by there in put on the site look at there build for an idea of there knowledge.
Make a plan and execute it

 

[mikester]

I think another issue is the price. If a cars cheap and you expect issues thats one thing. If a car is big money and its a high end build I would have to check it out in person. I paid $6500 for my wagon. Saw it on racingjunk. I was very lucky to have someone in the area that was able to check the car out for me. What made it really good was the guy checking it out owned a body shop in my town and Ive known him and his son for many years. I had a lot of faith in his judgement.

 

[UNGN]

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....

I did the same in '08 when I bought a 6 month old Saturn Vue for my wife. Got it for $10K under KBB, flew in, took a 60 mile van ride to to the town and drove it home. We did the deal at his bank.

Seller had no idea what it was worth, but bought it at car auction for cheap and listed it on Ebay with a way too cheap buy it now.