Anybody ever bought a car on ebay?

[porkchop87]

Stupid question but... how does it work? What are my payment options? Is it safe? How is the vehicle delivered? What would it be like to import the car to Canada?

 

[Tornado]

I can answer one of these:

How is the vehicle delivered?

You have to go get it. There are exceptions to this, but they are exceedingly rare.

 

[JCE]

I purchased my 1999 Ford Crown Vic P71 Police Interceptor on eBay. I had a friend drive to pick me up and take me there. Handed over 4 $1,000 money orders and the car was mine. Overall a good transaction.

 

[Waltermydoinher]

Purchased a 1994 Mazda Miata w/only 56k miles on it earlier this year for my son. I live in Az and it was in San Fran. We flew out one-way, picked it up and drove it home. What an awesome trip.

 

[NISM0_SKYLINE]

I bought my 240 on Ebay. Talked to him a few times over email, then drove the 45 minute drive, gave him the money and talked for a few minutes, then drove it home. It was a nice and easy deal with no problems. I'd suggest it as long as it seems legit and the seller can prove the car is actually there, like the VIN.

 

[spiker]

Just don't put a deposit on the car. My dad did that and then went to go pick it up and the car turned out to be different from what he said, so my dad demanded his money back and the guy said he spent it already. It was like $3,000 he put down, sight unseen. Learn your lesson from my dad.

 

[Famine]

I've "bought" five cars on eBay, and come away with four of them.

I bought an MX-3 for £770, went to view it and it wouldn't have made it to the end of the road with what looked like a front bank HGF in progress. Walked away, transaction cancelled, everyone happy.
I bought an MX-5 for £3,500, went to view it, it was great, paid and drove off.
I bought an MX-3 for £250, knowing that it'd need trailering. Drove 14 hours, it's exactly what I wanted.
I bought a Xedos 9 for £750. Got a friend to collect it, met him halfway and took it the rest of the way. Complete shed, nowhere near as described, lucky to be road legal, didn't give a damn because I pulled the engine out of it. Car to be seen in a scrappy near you.
I bought a BMW 523i SE Touring for £1,077, having already seen it on the way past. Hardcore beater, dented to oblivion but mechanically spanky. Exactly what I wanted.


If the car isn't as described for whatever reason, walk away. You don't owe anything if it's not what you bought.