Handling payment when buying an out-of-town vehicle.

[compos mentis]

Looking for ideas on how to protect myself when paying for the vehicle. Car is about 8 hours away from me. Not looking to make that trip for several reasons, so I was going to have it shipped. I'm not sending money to a stranger and 'hoping for the best'. I've read about www.escrow.com (http://www.escrow.com) but I haven't talked to anyone whose used it.

Opinions on the best way to handle payment?

Thanks.

[SLO_Z28]

Meet them in the police department parking lot for the exchange, make sure they have all the paperwork. Postal money orders work pretty good for payment too, if you've already settled on a price.

[killer67]

Quote:Meet them in the police department parking lot for the exchange

Good idea:idea:

[rjsjea]

I don't know man, your not willing to make the 8hr trip and not willing to "send the money to a stranger."

Maybe have a friend or willing third party make the deal for ya??

[compos mentis]

I don't know man, your not willing to make the 8hr trip and not willing to "send the money to a stranger."


I never said I was not willing to make the trip. I said

"Not looking to make that trip for several reasons"

[dunnjun]

Been faced with the same problem. Even if you make the trip, money orders, wire transfers, and certified checks can be gamed. The owners want to make sure that the money is really there before they give their car. You don't want to go halfway across the country with a big wad of money in your pocket to be robbed or confiscated by the cops as drug money. Escrow.com sounds like it would be a good solution. Let us know how it works, and good luck with your purchase

[compos mentis]

Been faced with the same problem. Even if you make the trip, money orders, wire transfers, and certified checks can be gamed. The owners want to make sure that the money is really there before they give their car. You don't want to go halfway across the country with a big wad of money in your pocket to be robbed or confiscated by the cops as drug money. Escrow.com sounds like it would be a good solution. Let us know how it works, and good luck with your purchase

I floated the escrow.com idea past the owner so we'll see what he thinks.

I'll post the results if I go through with it.

Cool T/A project btw. I like your wheel choice too.

[Flash68]

Skip.. are we gittin movin on a new project?! :6gears:

Gotta throw in my 2 cents... I have done the "send $ to a stranger" thing across the country on 2 occasions... I guess it comes down to instinct and gut. Not very scientific, but lots of pictures online and a presence and history on a forum sure made me feel better about the character and track record... right or wrong.. it did work out very well on both occasions. Product turned out better than expected both times.

But it's never easy.... have heard of the escrow.com thing as well, but no first hand knowledge.

One idea is to have the transaction be consummated via ebay (altho a fee occurs obviously) because they have automatic buyer protection. The buyer of my last car insisted on this and I split the ebay cost with him ($125 I believe).

Good luck!

[compos mentis]

Skip.. are we gittin movin on a new project?! :6gears:

Gotta throw in my 2 cents... I have done the "send $ to a stranger" thing across the country on 2 occasions... I guess it comes down to instinct and gut. Not very scientific, but lots of pictures online and a presence and history on a forum sure made me feel better about the character and track record... right or wrong.. it did work out very well on both occasions. Product turned out better than expected both times.

But it's never easy.... have heard of the escrow.com thing as well, but no first hand knowledge.

One idea is to have the transaction be consummated via ebay (altho a fee occurs obviously) because they have automatic buyer protection. The buyer of my last car insisted on this and I split the ebay cost with him ($125 I believe).

Good luck!

Thanks Flash,

Well, it is the size of a 1st gen, but it ain't....lol

You make some good points about what we sense of the individual.

I believe he would do the right thing, but since 'stuff can happen' I believe I need to make this transaction, should it go through, a 'sure thing' for me.

That's interesting about how the buyer (of the P-car I'm assuming) wanted to handle the sale. I'll look into that.

[Flash68]

Thanks Flash,

Well, it is the size of a 1st gen, but it ain't....lol

You make some good points about what we sense of the individual.

I believe he would do the right thing, but since 'stuff can happen' I believe I need to make this transaction, should it go through, a 'sure thing' for me.

That's interesting about how the buyer (of the P-car I'm assuming) wanted to handle the sale. I'll look into that.

Good -- too many 1st gens going around anyway. It's like a nasty virus. LOL

Understand the need to be 100% confident in the deal going down the way it should. Smart move.

At the end of the day, I only see a face to face transaction really pulling that off, whether it be you or someone you trust making the in-person trade.

Hope it works out. So you can get your build thread started!

[69X22]

If it's only 8hrs away and you have never seen the car in person, a trip would to see it might save you from ending up with a mis-represented mistake. Depending on how much money it is most people want cash for 2 reasons, they know it's good and they don't have to worry about Uncle Sam wanting to know where the money came from. I have also met with people, if I like the car I have my bank transfer the money to their account meanwhile they verify with their bank that the money is in their account before I leave with the car.

There are too many horror stories about having a car shipped to a person and it not being what it is suppose to be. I went thru this with a steel 34 5 window coupe, and I have read about a few on this website.

[Six_Shooter]

When I bought my Datsun, which was several thousand kilometers an in a different country away, I sent a down payment via Paypal, so that he would hold the car for me, I flew out to Calagry to meet up with my uncle, where we drove from down to Washington to see the car. I then paid for the rest of the car via Paypal as well.
It was a first time buying a car online, first time traveling more than a 20 minutes to go see/buy a car, first time having a car shipped and first time importing a car. All in all, I'd say it went fairly smoothly other than a few small timing glitches, to get things done.

[wmhjr]

On 4 instances I've bought cars from long distance. Used ones, that is. Of those 4, I relied on the reputation of those people as they routinely did long distance business. I've never been burned. I've used cashiers checks/bank checks for payment. I've always asked for pics in advance, and also asked for ADDITIONAL pics of specific things just to make sure that they really had the car in the pics. I've done extremely well on each of them. No regrets whatsoever. My current truck, an '04 high mileage Dodge Cummins I bought from 14 hrs distance only with pics. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made. I've also bought my GTO "donor" car, and two BMWs.

[1969CamaroRS]

See if they will meet you half way at branch of your bank. Also a DMV isn't a bad place either (to make sure that the title is clear) if you have a cashier's check done up in advance. Or even DMV first then to the bank.

Basically you want to make sure you get a clean title and the car is as the seller represented and the before they walk off with your money. (An honest) Seller wants to make sure their money is in their bank before you drive off with their car and clean title. That pretty much means a bank and / or DMV is the place to perform the transaction.

Don't buy a car sight unseen unless you don't care what condition the car is in pure and simple.

[compos mentis]

I appreciate the helpful suggestions...thanks.


The car is in Virgina and I am in Western New York.

I first learned of the car thru a former Western New Yorker who lives near the seller. After he drove it he posted this on another forum...

I test drove it the other day & loved it; unfortunately have to pass on it (too many other vehicles clogging the driveway). Seller is a nice guy hoping that it goes to an enthusiast.

Car is in excellent shape all around w/ tons of records. It was dealer serviced for years then purchased by the manager at ________. Will be a great fit for someone.

[Flash68]

I appreciate the helpful suggestions...thanks.


The car is in Virgina and I am in Western New York.

I first learned of the car thru a former Western New Yorker who lives near the seller. After he drove it he posted this on another forum...

I test drove it the other day & loved it; unfortunately have to pass on it (too many other vehicles clogging the driveway). Seller is a nice guy hoping that it goes to an enthusiast.

Car is in excellent shape all around w/ tons of records. It was dealer serviced for years then purchased by the manager at ________. Will be a great fit for someone.

Well if you can't trust a fellow Western New Yawker's assessment, who can ya trust? :smoke:

[compos mentis]

Well if you can't trust a fellow Western New Yawker's assessment, who can ya trust? :smoke:

We have are share of squirrels here too though; and many have relocated...lol

South Dakotan's may be higher up on the food chain...not sure though. :idea:

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Frankly, I wouldn't buy ANY car without inspecting it first. Do all your checking, pics, etc, and tell the seller you are going to get a 1-way plane ticket to come get the car, and it BETTER be what he has described. If he balks, you just saved yourself some time...if not, fly there (with a LARGE buddy if you can, to split the driving back and for the intimidation factor, if needed), inspect the car, and do the deal. Several years ago, I bought a '97 Camaro SS that way, and it went perfectly. The extra few hundred bucks is far less than fixing a bondo sculpture, rust bucket, or a "Krylon rebuild" on the engine.