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| How to Buy Passenger Vehicles on eBay Motors |
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You can also learn about buying boats, motorcycles, powersports, other vehicles and parts & accessories.
What every buyer should think about before they consider buying a passenger vehicle for sale on eBay Motors.
Learn about the car (truck, minivan, SUV, etc.)
 Run a title check.
Read the description thoroughly.
Assume vehicles are sold in "as is condition".
Learn about the seller
Know your seller and review his/her feedback rating.
Know what you can afford, and the total costs
Determine guidelines for what you are willing to pay.
Know your total costs and how you'll cover them.
Bidding over $15,000? Be sure to have your credit card on file first!
Apply for financing so you can make monthly payments.
Learn about what services eBay Motors offers to protect you.
Learn more about our free Vehicle Purchase Protection which provides protection against fraud or material misrepresentation up to $50,000 from a third party insurance company.
Be aware of constraints for filing a complaint.
- Learn about the car (truck, SUV, etc.)
It is worth it to run a vehicle history report on any used car you purchase. You'll learn the history of the vehicle, including accident reports or title "brands" such as Flooded or Salvage.
- Read the description thoroughly.
The description is the seller's chance to elaborate on all the details of the vehicle - the condition, terms of sale, any guarantee, etc. Some descriptions are better than others, and the best sellers will be very thorough. If you have a question that isn't covered in the description, contact the seller (use the "Ask seller a question" link at the top of the listing).
Don't wait until the end of the auction. Also, be aware that many Sellers do not want to negotiate price (or reserve price), but do want to answer any questions that you have.
- Assume vehicles are sold in "as is" condition.
Make an independent assessment of the condition of the vehicle and again, contact the seller with any questions about condition before making an offer. Be realistic in your expectations of used or older vehicles - expect normal "wear and tear". If possible, arrange with the seller to personally visit, or have an inspection service visit the vehicle to ensure accurate representation.
- Learn about the seller.
Check the seller's feedback rating for positive comments and to see if the seller has sold similar items in the past. If you cannot reach your seller, or you seller is inaccessible by email and/or phone, do not try to buy the vehicle until you are able to make contact and the seller addresses your questions to your satisfaction. By eBay policy, if you are unable to reach the seller during the course of the auction, you may retract your bid once it has been placed.
* An important note for the buyer about feedback:
Feedback is a critical part of buying and selling on eBay. It provides important information to buyers and sellers about the people with whom they are transacting. As such, it is one of the most powerful ways to build trust and a reputation on the site. eBay asks everyone to participate in giving feedback. However, as with any open and essentially un-policed system, there are occasionally people who take advantage of it. Sometimes, there are misunderstandings or hurt feelings, and in rare cases, buyers or sellers will hold the threat of leaving negative feedback as a way of getting more than is fair. For this reason, you should look at every seller's complete feedback history, and not necessarily rule out someone with a few negatives. The same goes for sellers just starting out who have no or very little feedback. Everyone has to start somewhere, and every one of our best sellers (and buyers) started with 0 feedback once upon a time. Give them a chance, but again, make sure to talk to the person so that you can form your own opinion.
- Know what you can afford, and the total costs.
All bids on eBay are binding so you should make sure that you know how much you can afford first. Refer to pricing guidelines at KBB.com or look at final prices on other eBay listings for similar cars by looking at Completed Items from search results. If a vehicle is selling at a price far below fair market price, use extra caution as to the nature of the transaction.
- Know your total costs and how you'll cover them
Make sure you consider all the potential costs such as: Title & Registration, State Taxes, and any shipping costs. Refer to your state DMV site for guidelines on taxes, title and registration. If the seller isn't local, make sure you know how you will pick up the vehicle or how you will arrange shipping if you are the successful buyer (typically, sellers can help arrange shipping, but buyers usually pay for it).
Get quotes for shipping from DAS who ships cars, motorcycles, and most other vehicles.
If you are depending on a loan to purchase the vehicle, make sure you thoroughly understand all the lender qualifications such as applicable makes/models, mileage limitations, type of seller (e.g. does your lender loan on cars bought from other individuals?), etc.
- Bidding over $15,000? Be sure to have your credit card on file first!
You are required to have a credit card on file with eBay if you bid more than $15,000 on an item.
You will be notified when you bid, so allow yourself some extra time if you are bidding in the last minutes of an auction. Your credit card will not be charged, but is used to confirm identity - a safety measure to help protect both buyers and sellers from potential high-bidding fraud.
- Apply for financing so you can make monthly payments.
Buying what you want is easier when you can make affordable monthly payments. eBay, together with several top lenders, can help you get the financing you need. Click here to arrange financing before you bid OR after you buy through the eBay Financing Center.
- Learn about what services eBay Motors offers to protect you.
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