How to safely buy a car on eBay Motors
eBay Motors has become a popular place to buy and sell cars for consumers due to its ease of use. There are two main ways to buy cars on eBay Motors, including auction formats and "Buy Now" offers. Auction-style formats require you to bid on the car you're interested in, while "Buy Now" allows you to automatically purchase a car at a set seller's price without going through the bidding process.
Method 1 of 2: eBay Motors Auction Format
Necessary materials
- Computer or laptop
- Paper and pencil
The auction format allows you to bid on the vehicle you are interested in. However, before placing a bid, you should carefully study the lists of cars you are interested in, as well as familiarize yourself with the history of the sellers. to make sure they don't have negative reviews from previous buyers.
Step 1. Determine your budget. First, decide what kind of car you want and how much you're willing to spend on it. When setting your budget, consider how much you are willing to spend as your maximum bet amount, and don't bid above that amount. This will help keep you from falling for what some call "trading fever" at the last minute of the auction.
Step 2: Review seller reviews. View seller reviews for each vehicle you wish to bid on. You can check their eBay seller feedback profile to see what kind of feedback they've received and buyer comments about their experience with the seller. When viewing seller reviews, look for sellers with a high score and percentage of reviews.
Step 3: Examine Your Ads. Then explore the vehicles you are interested in in the listings on eBay Motors. Fortunately, sellers include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the vehicle description for their listings. This allows you to compile a vehicle history report, although many of the vehicles listed come with a free report, or at least the option to buy a report directly from eBay Motors.
When searching for vehicles on eBay Motors, remember the following:
Vehicle History Report: You also have the option to pay for an independent vehicle history report outside of eBay Motors. You can visit websites such as Carfax, AutoCheck.com, and VehicleHistory.com for a complete history report on the vehicle you are interested in.
Description of the vehicle. Read carefully the description of each vehicle you think you might be able to bid on. Email the seller if you have any questions about the vehicle and its condition before bidding. Make sure you understand the seller's payment terms in the vehicle description so there is no confusion. Also, please make sure you agree to the payment terms such as payment method before bidding. You can also contact the seller if you have any questions about payment terms.
FunctionsA: Before bidding, you should also consider shipping options if you win a bid on a vehicle located outside of your region. This adds to the overall cost of the car and can get expensive. Some sellers also offer shipping options, so look for them in the vehicle description.
Step 4: Apply. When placing a bet, enter the maximum amount you want to pay. The eBay system then bids in predetermined increments until your maximum bid is reached. If you win an auction for less than your maximum bid, then you pay that amount. Otherwise, the item goes to another bidder if they offer a higher price. If someone else exceeds your maximum bid, you can offer another maximum amount above that if you wish. Remember not to get into a bidding war or you could end up spending too much on a car.
Step 5: Buy a car. Once you've successfully won the auction, it's time to complete the purchase process. This process looks like this:
Pay the seller. You do this by following the merchant's instructions for accepted payment methods.
Arrange pickup or delivery. This is usually the buyer's responsibility. However, sometimes the seller may offer some sort of shipping option or at least an approximate shipping cost to the buyer. If so, it will be stated in the vehicle description.
Transfer title and pay taxes. To do this, you will need to contact your state Department of Motor Vehicles to find out what you need to have the vehicle in your name. Some of the required documents include the title to the vehicle, which the seller must complete and sign upon transfer of ownership. You also need to find out what taxes you owe and pay.
A warningA: Avoid merchants who try to force you to use Western Union, MoneyGram, or other cash transfer methods to send money to them. Most likely the seller is trying to swindle money from you.
Method 2 of 2: Buy Now on eBay Motors
Necessary materials
- Computer or laptop
- Paper and pencil
If you have the money, you may also want to consider the "Buy Now" option if the seller has that option. The Buy Now feature allows you to purchase an item at a specific price without bidding on it. The price of such items is usually equal to the amount that the seller is comfortable accepting outside of the bidding process in the auction format.
Step 1: Choose a car type. First, decide what type of car you want to buy. Be sure to include the year, make and model of the vehicle, and any features or options you are looking for. You also have to set a budget, how much you want to spend on the car.
Step 2: Find Ads. Search eBay Motors to view listings of vehicles you are interested in purchasing. You can further narrow your search by using the categories on the left side of the page to find specific trim levels, features and special options. Once you have found the exact type of car you need, you can click on the individual listings to learn more about each specific car listing.
- Functions: You can also have your vehicle inspected by a third party mechanic using the eBay Motor Inspect My Ride affiliate program. For a fee, a mechanic from the affiliate program will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the car you want to buy, at 150+ points.
Step 3: Research sellers. Research sellers for specific listings of vehicles you are interested in purchasing. You should check criteria such as the seller's review score and any comments left on their review profile by past buyers. This should give you a fair idea of how reliable they have been with past sales.
Step 4: Click the "Buy Now" button.. This will place the vehicle in your cart. You have the option to add the car to your shopping cart for later purchase or buy it right away.
- A warning: Items in your cart are still available to other customers until you click the "Confirm & Pay" button. If you wait too long, you may lose the car you want.
Step 5: Proceed to Checkout. To make a purchase immediately, click the Proceed to Checkout button. This step pulls up information about your purchase. From there, click the "Confirm and pay" button to complete the transaction.
- A warning: Be sure to take into account any shipping or additional costs when determining the final cost of the car. You also had to take this into account when calculating the budget for buying a car.
Step 6: End the process. The final steps in this process are paying the seller, arranging delivery or collection of the vehicle, transferring ownership, and paying any taxes due. The ad description should have more information about accepted payment methods. Pickup or delivery is the responsibility of the buyer, although some sellers may offer shipping options.
Buying a car on eBay Motors is an easy way to find and buy a car without having to travel far. You have two main options for buying a car, including Auction Style and Buy Now. Knowing what to look out for and the best course of action when buying a car on eBay Motors will ensure that your purchase will be easy and safe.
