Tips for Buying an used Vehicle on
Ebaymotors
If
you have never purchased with ebay before
Register with Ebay ...this involves choosing an user name, a password,
providing them with your name, address, telephone, and an e-mail address)
Decide
on the type vehicle you are looking for, consider alternative but
similar makes and models while browsing through the used car listings.......make
use of Webwheelz.com's Resource Links
Look
for no-reserve, and low reserve auctions...these can lead
to some real bargains!
Check
the 
price listings....you may find a surprise deal!
Once
vehicle has been located that meets your requirements, check out and
read the sellers
feedback rating.... (the total number of positive feedback's or
their percentage rating of positive feedback) from others who have dealt
with the seller previously.
If
the seller has a low or a "0" feedback rating, it may just
indicate that this is a first time seller on ebaymotors. Make sure you
are looking at "seller ratings" and NOT "buyer
ratings". Be "proactive" contact the seller with
ANY questions you have!
Do
a VIN (vehicle identification Number) check....for potential
problems such as salvaged title, flooded car title, mileage confirmations,
etc. through online sites such as Car Fax.com's 
Free
Record Check
Establish
the vehicles estimated "value", using online guides
such as Kelly
Blue Book, or
NADA.com
You
may want to only consider auctions that the seller will allow you to
back out of the deal, upon an unfavorable inspection of the vehicle
Don't
be shy about asking the seller a question....click on the "ask
the seller a question link". The time to clear up ANY questions
you may have about the vehicle is BEFORE you start bidding.....if for
any reason you can't establish contact the seller via e-mail or by telephone
during the auction...don't buy the vehicle, until contact is established.
A bid that has been placed within the last 12 hours of the listing will
be retracted by ebay if you have been unable to contact the seller during
this time frame
Make
a starting bid, either by making individual bids or using ebay's proxy
bid option, (see Webwheelz's ebay
bidding tips)
Calculate
what your total cost is going to be, consider transportation expenses
(to and from the vehicle's location) or vehicle
shipping costs, inspection services, motor vehicle department costs,
etc.
Establish
how you will be paying for your new vehicle.... Consider a Capital
One Auto Finance, pre-approved bank loan
.
Establish
and use a escrow account, from an established escrow account
firm for final payment. Ebay recommends escrow.com.
Read
the fine print in the sellers purchase terms, as to what if any
fee's you are agreeing to pay as a winning bidder. This is especially
true if you are buying from a dealer vs a individual owner.
Visit
the car in person or use a vehicle inspection service. Ebay currently
has an arrangement with SCS
Automotive, who will perform a 150 point vehicle inspection, or
you can make arrangements through a private local company.
Make
use of Ebay's buyer protection programs, such as the Vehicle
Purchase Protection Plan, the Short
Term Service Agreement, and Condition
Guarantee by Seller
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