| Why Buy Online? One of the best reasons for | | | | to the car? |
| buying anything online is the expanded range of | | | | - Does the car come with any service history? |
| choices you have. A web site like eBay Motors | | | | - Do I understand all the related costs associated |
| can show you cars from across the nation and | | | | with purchasing the car? Verifying that the seller is |
| provide you with cross-selections that may lead | | | | a reliable source of information can be difficult. |
| you in a new direction when making buying | | | | Use your instincts and ask as many detailed |
| decisions. | | | | questions as possible to "feel" the seller out. Also |
| Perhaps you started out looking at Ford SUVs, | | | | review the responses carefully. If a person isn't |
| but while searching through vehicle listings you | | | | being honest in their answers to your questions |
| came across a reference to a Chrysler Minivan | | | | they'll usually have trouble keeping their |
| that fit your needs better. This ability to analyze | | | | information consistent. Be concerned with any |
| the available vehicles in a variety of ways is what | | | | discrepancies in the facts that the seller states |
| makes shopping on the Internet such a powerful | | | | during the transaction. Of course use your |
| resource. | | | | discretion. People make honest mistakes. Follow up |
| Online shopping also can provide you as a buyer a | | | | and get clarification to any additional questions you |
| certain level of anonymity. Most sellers will list an | | | | may have. |
| email address as well as a phone number. By | | | | Going hand-in-hand with the honesty of the seller |
| contacting the seller via email and asking a specific | | | | is the knowledge that the car is being represented |
| list of questions (we'll cover this later) you can | | | | correctly. Not every seller fully understands what |
| weed out potential vehicles without actually | | | | they're selling. This especially is the case with rare |
| speaking to the seller. This means you can pose | | | | or exotic cars. Options that are on the vehicle |
| your questions at any time of day, and the seller | | | | when it's being sold may or may not be original |
| can respond at their convenience. Email responses | | | | factory options. If this is important to you it's |
| can also be saved, making remembering the | | | | best to do the research on the car yourself. Ask |
| responses to your questions that much easier. | | | | for the VIN number and use a reliable source like |
| In order to make buyers feel comfortable in | | | | CARFAX to do your checking. |
| purchasing vehicles online, big auction sites like | | | | On more vintage cars you may be forced to go |
| eBay Motors offer a "Buyer Protection" service. | | | | to professional appraisal services, or contact the |
| eBay's coverage provides insurance on any car | | | | specific Owner's Club or Registry for you car. |
| purchase up to $20,000. If the seller | | | | These can be found by searching online; will list |
| misÂÂrepresented the vehicle, or doesn't | | | | several places to start. |
| provide a vehicle at all, eBay Motors will cover | | | | Maintenance costs for used cars are a huge |
| your losses. This is a great selling point to using | | | | unknown unless you have the past maintenance |
| eBay's services; it also highlights some of the risks | | | | history. A log book or service book being offered |
| associated with online car shopping. | | | | with a car is a huge boon to determining risks. |
| Risk Management Purchasing any car is all about | | | | This is very important with rare and exotic cars. |
| risk management. You want to minimize the | | | | DeTomaso Panteras, for example, can have |
| chances of ending with a lemon; or worse, being | | | | expensive repair bills down the road if they're not |
| outright scammed by the seller. The best way to | | | | maintained properly. |
| reduce your risk is to understand the factors that | | | | There are plenty of costs associated with any |
| go into determining it. | | | | purchase above and beyond the asking price. |
| Risk Factors: | | | | Make sure you understand exactly what you're |
| - Is the seller a reliable source of information? | | | | getting yourself into before you make any bid. |
| - Is the car represented correctly? | | | | "Read Twice, Bid Once. |
| - What is the long-term maintenance cost related | | | | |