Ebays Most

EBay Tips – Purchasing Cars Safely

Ebay Motors is now a thriving marketplace for buying and selling all manner of vehicles. The main reason is because you can find different types of vehicles in a short period of time and at the convenience of your home. If you are thinking of buying a car on eBay it is likely that the seller will have specified a local pick-up only. This is certainly inconvenient for buyers living away from sellers. However, arranging the car to be shipped is not as difficult as it it sounds and by reading this guide you will be able to get the car you want on eBay and get safe courier services at your door step.

Is it safe?

Many people think buying cars on eBay is not really safe. Most of the time it is safe to buy on eBay. Follow the tips below to ensure you don’t risk any money on your eBay car purchase.

eBay seller feedback

This is the first point of call when you are thinking of buying a car and an easy way to separate the good sellers from the bad. If you can, only buy from sellers with 100% or very close feedback score. That way you know you are less likely to be scammed or let down during your eBay experience. Beyond looking at the score it is important to look at what past customers have said about the seller. Was shipping time as described? Was the item as described? If any of the previous comments make you feel worried, don’t go ahead.

Item condition

This dimension of the eBay process is often the most disconcerting because the customer is put off by the fact they cannot see the car in question. As you live away from the seller, it is important to have a clear understanding of the car condition before making the purchase.

Remember the old saying “too good to be true”! Pay extra attention to low priced cars as there might be issues with them. Read the description carefully to make sure you know what to expect. Make sure the car is fully MOT’d and in working condition and if it isn’t, it should be described as such. There have been many cases when eBay buyers rushed into a purchase only to realise later that the item condition was not as they expected.

It is a good practice to ask the seller to send high resolution pictures of the car than relying on the eBay pictures. Many buyers do have these in place and are generally happy to send them over to you.

Review

Always do your research before bidding on a particular item. Take your time to consider your budget and what things you want in your next car. Does this car tick all the boxes? Is the seller reputable?Are you happy with the car condition? You should always ask and answer these questions before making the purchase.

Always make sure that you check the car history. You can do this easily and quickly online –only the car registration number is needed. Also, you can access a vehicle history report from eBay directly to put your mind at ease. Finally check to see whether the car is covered by eBay’s Vehicle Purchase Protection. Although these are necessary steps, they are not a 100% guarantee – you will still need to some research and enquiring of your own.

Payment

If possible, use PayPal or an established escrow company (a third party that acts as a go-between yourself and the seller) to pay for your car. If you are paying using another method, make sure you have some sort of protection just in case something goes wrong.

Transport

So you bought the car you ever wanted. Now to find a transporter, or as the German would say, autotransporte! Now it’s time to get it delivered to you. It is advised to choose a car transporter locally to you so they can deliver the car more quickly. Yellow Pages or Google are useful places to look for a car transporter.

Similar to checking the eBay seller’s reliability, make sure you choose a trustworthy car transport company to avoid unwanted incidents such as theft or damages to the car.

What happens next?

Ensure any damage is catalogued by both you and the seller. The car transport company will do the same, so make sure any damage is noted down and time stamped.

When the car is delivered, check it carefully. Ensure that there is no extra damage before signing the job off. In the case damages have been done en route, make sure the car delivery company acknowledges the damages and sign a document about that. If applicable, you must also inform your insurance company within 24 hours.