So, You Want A New or Used Car or Truck...What Next?

The eBay Motors Buying Experience

There are two types of buying methods available on eBay:

 Auction - the seller sets a bid price and has the discretion to decline a bid less than the maximum. The seller also sets an end-time associated with the listing. Place a bid only if you really intend to buy the item. Once you have placed a bid, it is a binding contract.

 Buy It Now - a purchase can be made at the seller's fixed price. Auction-style listings with a Buy It Now option give you the choice to bid for the item or simply buy it immediately at a fixed price.

Never buy a vehicle without doing your homework. This is true whether buying from a seller on eBay or at your local dealership. Before bidding, know the blue book value of the vehicle of interest. Your primary goal should be to buy a car at eBay Motors for less than what you can get it at locally. Otherwise, the transaction is not worth your time or effort. Don't bid too high, use your head and not your emotions. Walk away when a bidding war puts the price above blue book. Remember, you are searching for a bargain and one will arrive with patience and diligence.

An important consideration is the mileage distance from where you are located. For instance, you live in Texas, but the car you absolutely must have is located in Oregon. Here are several options available to you:

 Auto Transport Services - check out reputable transport company's reliability through the links shown at the bottom of this page.

 Seller Delivery - it's always worth a try to ask the seller if he is willing to deliver the car to you. Make sure the seller is not over-inflating delivery costs, if this is part of the sale. Check auto transport service costs first before you agree with this option or

 Find A Car Within or Near Your State or Zip Code - the Ebay search function is an excellent way to narrow your results and save yourself a lot of effort. There are many local auctions on Ebay that you might never see in your local newspaper listings.

Yet another consideration is the condition of the car or truck of interest. There is no substitute for being able to see and drive the vehicle before purchasing. Even so, there are many unhappy car owners who have been duped by unscrupulous local dealerships and individual sellers, after taking a test drive and/or getting a car warranty. eBay allows the seller to display unlimited pictures of the vehicle. You will be surprised at the number of different shots showing the condition of the car of interest. Some sellers offer a condition guarantee.

Take a look at the amount of feedback about the seller. Many sellers make a living on Ebay and live and die by their good words and deeds. If the feedback is negative or neutral, keep on looking. Don't be afraid to contact former buyers who have left feedback to glean more information. You may want to ask about the buying experience or whether the car they bought was misrepresented in any way. Some other questions might include whether there was any problem in the ownership transfer or mechanical issues after the purchase. Assimilate as much information as possible before you place a bid.

Next, identify the VIN of the vehicle of interest. Most sellers supply this information in the description of the auto. If not, email the seller and get this data. Do this before you bid on the car. Using the VIN, run an Automobile History Report which provides checks for title, odometer, frame or water damage, lemon issues, accidents, theft, police/taxi use and fleet car designation. This will help weed out any potential costly problems.

Some other information requiring answers before committing to a bid are:

  How many owners has the vehicle had?
  Does the car have a documented maintenance history?
  What are the payment methods the seller accepts?
  Does the car come with a condition guarantee?
  What miles per gallon does the vehicle actually get versus EPA projections?
  Does the car have any dings or paint issues?
  How old are the tires and battery?
  What is the condition of the interior?
  Does the car have any windshield cracks? If so, has it been sealed?
  Has the seller done a documented vehicle inspection?
  There are several other regional considerations when purchasing a used vehicle. If originating in Louisiana, Texas or Mississippi, or any state along the Mississippi River, was the car involved in hurricane or rain flooding?
  If the buyer is in California, does the vehicle conform to stringent California emissions requirements?
  Are there any in-state fees for vehicles originating from out-of-state?

Ok, so you've had all your questions answered to your satisfaction. Now it's time to place your bid. If the vehicle if for auction, place your bid, then continue checking throughout the time allotment to see if more bidding is required. Absolutely log into your eBay account about 10 - 15 minutes before the expiration of the bid to make sure no one has made a counter bid at the last minute.

eBay Motors provides a Vehicle Protection Program. It might be worthwhile to check into this service.

A buyer can arrange to have an onsite 160-point inspection through eBay Escrow Services performed prior to making a final decision on the purchase.

According to eBay Motors, the service works like this:

  Terms of offer are finalized between buyer and seller
  Buyer chooses Escrow.com Inspection Services and pays $125.00 non-refundable fee by credit card
  Seller is contacted, appointment scheduled, inspection completed and report sent to buyer
  After viewing the inspection report, the buyer can submit the balance due for the vehicle or request a cancellation
  This process is usually completed within two business days

If you win the auction bidding and inspections go well, you want to ensure that all the proper documentation has been supplied before leaving the dealership or private residence with the vehicle. You also want to make sure you have the proper vehicle insurance before driving it away. If shipping, make arrangements with the seller for proper documentation before shipment.

There you have it. Good luck and happy hunting!

Just click BuyACarZone to search the full complement of cars and trucks available.