How to Buy a Car On Ebay and Ship It
Did you know that 59 percent of car buyers rely on online research as one of their most crucial buying strategies? What’s more, 78 percent of consumers turn to third-party sites for their used car shopping needs.
One of the most commonly used third-party car-buying sites is eBay. Countless individuals purchase a car through this site. But you need to have a thorough understanding of how the platform works before making a purchase.
Keep reading to find out more about buying a car on eBay and what you need to know about having it shipped.
Article Overview
What Is eBay Motors?
What do you need to know about buying a car on eBay? Many consumers ask this vital question before making an online purchase. After all, getting a vehicle through the internet comes with many questions and concerns.
You’ll part with a large sum of money, and so you don’t want to make a mistake. It’s important to remember that eBay Motors sees tens of millions of listings at a time. As a result, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Fortunately, eBay Motors comes with a vast catalog of options, permitting you to narrow down your car search. That means no more reliance on visiting local dealerships or trade magazines. Best of all, you can shop from the comfort of your own home.
What exactly is eBay Motors? This branch of the renowned online auction company eBay deals entirely in cars and car parts. Fortunately, eBay Motors relies on the same highly secure payment platform, which means peace of mind as a consumer.
Safety and Security Using eBay Motors
The site contains a wealth of resources. These include information about what to look for when bidding on auctions and buying a car. To access this information, head to the eBay “Motors Security Center.”
There you’ll find a full range of warnings and red flags to bear in mind when making a purchase. But the safety features you’ll enjoy with eBay Motors don’t end there.
As a customer of the site, you can also take advantage of eBay Motors’ “Vehicle Purchase Protection” (VPP) coverage. VPP covers the cost of purchasing a vehicle and comes with a maximum limit of $100,000.
As you can see, eBay Motors represents a secure and legitimate platform. Millions of consumers use it every day. But what does the vehicle purchasing process look like? Let’s take a closer look.
What to Know About Buying a Car on eBay Motors
There are many reasons why consumers turn to eBay Motors. These include the convenience of online car purchases, access to countless options, and the ability to find fantastic deals. What’s the first thing you need to know about buying through this site?
Start by setting up an eBay account if you don’t already have one. You’ll need to provide some basic information, including your contact information. But setting up an account is surprisingly simple.
After you’ve got an account, start exploring car listings. At this point, you need to understand that eBay Motors comes with two purchasing options.
You can either bid on a vehicle or use the “Buy It Now” feature. What’s the “Buy It Now” feature, and when should you consider using it?
The “Buy It Now” feature lets you claim a vehicle outright without allowing other bidders to purchase it. Of course, this feature means you’ll bypass the auction option and the chance to win the automobile for an even lower price.
If you see a smoking deal that you can’t stand the thought of losing, this represents the best route to go. The “Buy It Now” feature can also make it easier to comparison shop vehicles and stay within your budget.
That said, don’t skimp on your market research. Know the car’s history and make sure the seller has an excellent rating. In other words, just because you’re jumping over the bidding step, don’t neglect other areas such as research, setting a budget, etc.
Tips on Buying Things on eBay
What are some tips that will ensure you make the best purchase possible from eBay? For starters, you need to do your research. This step involves knowing what you’re searching for before you start placing any bids.
One of the handiest things about eBay Motors is the ability to set criteria for searches. The more detail you can provide, the more effective your search will be. So, get detailed oriented when it comes to your ideal ride.
What happens if you have trouble narrowing down search criteria? Head back to the research drawing board. Keep researching makes, models, and more to narrow down your ideal vehicle.
One way to do this is by checking out as many listings as possible. Why? This approach permits you to gain a complete picture of each car’s market value.
This process also lets you narrow your search down to a couple of likely candidates. After you’ve done this, check the seller history for each car’s owner. Pay attention to any red flags that should dissuade you from working with a particular seller.
More Tips to Help You Save Money and Find a Winning Deal
Take a close look at each vehicle’s history report. You can easily do this for free using an eBay Motors Autocheck. This Autocheck permits you to explore ownership history, condition, and much more.
What’s another thing you should pay attention to when looking for a car? Keep your eye out for “No Reserve” auctions. These are auctions where vehicles get sold without a minimum price.
No reserve cars usually go for much less than their counterparts with reserve prices. You should also pay attention to the seller’s cancelation policy. The top sellers usually offer car inspections ahead of time, as well as the ability to cancel your purchases if not fully satisfied.
If you find a seller that doesn’t permit the “Cancel When Inspected” option, it may indicate the vehicle has problems the seller isn’t honestly disclosing. Avoid these sellers.
Finally, exercise caution when bidding on vehicles. Although every buyer has a unique bidding style, you should still set a realistic price limit. No matter how tempting it may be, do NOT go beyond this budget limit.
Winning a Bid and Sealing the Deal
Let’s say you’ve done your research, stayed within budget, found a reliable top seller, and won an auction. Now what? We highly recommend paying for your vehicle through PayPal, cash upon delivery, or a finance package.
Stay away from quick cash payments or Western Union transfers as they don’t come with the same safeguards. These suggestions apply whether you’ve won an auction or hit the “Buy It Now” option. These requests are red flags and should be perceived as dubious.
After you’ve found your ideal vehicle and purchased it through eBay Motors, set up vehicle transportation. To avoid excessive auto shipping fees, always stick with cars located closer to you.
That said, if you’re after genuinely scarce cars, this may not be an option. Fortunately, there are other ways to ensure you secure an affordable auto relocation rate.
Shipping a Car
What are some tips when it comes to shipping a car? Look for an experienced, reliable auto transport company. This company should have good online customer reviews.
They should be registered with the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCAS). Companies dealing in interstate auto shipping should have both a US DOT number and an MC number.
Ask potential companies for these numbers. Then, use them via the website links above to research safety records. If a company doesn’t have these numbers, don’t ship with them.
The company should also have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. This rating reflects companies that take customer service and care seriously. It’s an excellent indicator of the best businesses.
You should also be able to get a complimentary shipping quote from potential companies. Never pay for a shipping quote or place a deposit before receiving one, as these are considered red flags.
Other Tips for Auto Shipping
After receiving shipping quotes, inquire about the fees covered in each quote. That way, you can avoid nasty surprises, such as hidden fees. You should also ask about each company’s insurance policy covering vehicles.
A reputable auto shipping company will provide you with an emailed copy of their policy. Or they may direct you to a page on their site where they post this policy.
Check it out carefully. If you see gaps in coverage or find it doesn’t cover the true market value of the vehicle you’ve just purchased, ask about purchasing additional coverage. As you can see, winning a car auction through eBay Motors is easier than you think, and the same goes for finding an excellent auto moving company to work with.
Are you looking for a trustworthy car shipping company to work with? Contact American Auto Shipping to handle the transport of your eBay auction win.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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