How to Buy--Vehicles
Here are a few tips on buying a vehicle. Please refer to How to Buy--Non-Vehicles, for general information about buying Parts & Accessories or Automobilia.
How to register
If you're here to buy or sell, you'll need to register first. But don't worry, it's fast and free. All you need to do is give us simple information such as your name, your email address, and the country you live in. Then you're ready to get started.
Evaluating a vehicle
Warranty/inspection
If a recent vehicle inspection is available, it can help you learn more about the vehicle.
Some vehicles may have a warranty or extended service plan that the owner can transfer to you when you purchase the car. In other cases you may be able to purchase a service plan separately.
Shipping cost by location
We offer regional filters on listing and search pages to help you find items for sale in a geographic region near you. You can often pick up vehicles located near you, or have them shipped inexpensively. However, if you find the car of your dreams across the country, shipping still might be cheaper than you think. Check with DAS, our shipping partner, for a quote.
Test drive
A test drive can be a great help in making a decision about buying a vehicle. Check the item description to see if the seller offers a test drive. If you go to test drive, we suggest you bring a friend, and meet in a public place like a coffee shop.
Title Check
It's always a good idea to check the vehicle title to make sure there are no major problems with the car and that it isn't a lemon. Check with your insurance provider before you buy a vehicle.
You can conduct a title check by clicking on the car's unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the item page for the car. AutoCheck offers a for-fee service that gives you more detail about the vehicle history.
How much can you afford?
All bids on eBay are binding so you should make sure you know how much you can afford first. Consider the following costs in your car purchase:
Financing a vehicle allows you to minimize your up-front purchase costs. Once you've decided how much you're willing to pay for a vehicle, get pre-approval from a finance company. Pre-approval will allow you to estimate the total cost of the loan and the amount of your monthly payments, help you judge how much you can afford, and help complete the transaction quickly once the auction ends.
How to search
In addition to search boxes found on the home page and on listings pages, we also offer more advanced searches for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, parts and other automotive items. Just click the "Search" tab on the navigation bar at the top of every page.
How to bid
Remember, your bid is a legally binding offer to buy the vehicle at any price up to your maximum bid amount. If your bid is accepted by the seller, you are legally obligated to pay. Not paying may cause the seller to seek legal action. For details, check out eBay's User Agreement.
Check the vehicle
Before you bid, check the vehicle you're bidding on thoroughly. If you have any questions about the vehicle, email your questions to the seller. Make sure you clearly understand:
- Who pays for shipping
- Payment terms
- Whether you can pay by personal check, credit card or other methods
- Any other details you need to know
Check for feedback
Find out about the person you're doing business with. Look at the seller's feedback rating and read feedback comments to see how other buyers have rated their interactions.
As a buyer, checking a seller's Feedback Profile before you make a bid is one of the smartest and safest moves you can make. This Feedback Profile answers many questions about how a seller does business. Is she highly recommended by other buyers? Does he sell quality merchandise? Feedback is available for all eBay transactions.
Now you're ready to start bidding. You can place a bid while you're viewing the item you'd like to buy.
Auction types
There are several types of auctions in which you can participate:
- Reserve Price Auctions--if the seller won't sell below a certain price.
- To win the auction, a bidder must meet or exceed the reserve price and have the highest bid.
- If no bidders meet the reserve price, neither the seller nor the high bidder are under any further obligation.
- Private Auctions--so bidders' email addresses won't show up on the item or bidding-history screens. When the auction is over, only the seller will know who bought the vehicle.
Proxy bidding
Set the maximum amount you're willing to pay for the item. Our system makes automatic bids for you as other bidders increase the bid price. This amount is kept secret and is referred to as the proxy bid.
If your maximum bid is outbid by another bidder, you will be notified by email. But, realize that notification could happen minutes or seconds before the close of an auction. So if you really want something, set the maximum amount you're willing to pay for the item when you make your first bid. Your proxy may not ever go as high as the maximum you set if it's not necessary to outbid the next highest bidder.
For example: You and another bidder are bidding on a car. The minimum bid set by the seller is $6,000. The other bidder puts his maximum bid amount at $7,000. Because there are no other bidders, his actual bid is set by eBay at $6,000. Next, you enter a maximum bid of $10,000. Your proxy automatically outbids his maximum bid, but only by one bid increment-not the entire $3,000 difference. So you are now the high bidder at $7,100. Now, another bidder comes along at the last minute and enters a maximum bid amount of $9,000. Even though you are not at your computer, our proxy remembers your maximum bid, and automatically outbids that bidder by one bid increment again. You now are the high bidder at $9,100. The auction ends, and this is your purchase price.
Bidder verification
To be able to bid $15,000 or more, we require that you first put a credit card on file (your card will not be charged) or use eBay's ID Verify service ($5 charge). You'll only need to do this once, then you can bid as often and as much as you like..
Withdrawing a bid
Since all bids are binding, you should only retract bids in an exceptional circumstance. If you do retract a bid, you will be eliminating all bids you have placed in that auction. So if you are correcting an error on your bid, you will have to bid again.
During the auction
You can keep track of an item you're interested in by:
- Setting a bookmark on the item page with your browser
- Noting the item number and finding it by using the "search by number"
function in eBay Search.
- Clicking the "Watch this Item" link on the left hand side of an item page. This marks the item to be watched in your My eBay page. You can also use My eBay to view your favorite categories, your recent feedback, and items you're bidding on--all in one convenient place.
After the auction
The binding contract of the auction is between the winning bidder and the seller.
Closing the deal
Auctions can last 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. Bidding automatically ends when the auction does. The high bidder and seller should contact each other within 3 business days of the end of the auction. It's a good idea to check your email or phone regularly after the auction. If you're the high bidder, and the seller can't reach you within this time, he or she may contact the next-highest bidder and sell the item to that person.
Contact the seller
You will receive an email notice at the end of the auction if you are the high bidder. This email contains the final price of the item (not including any shipping charges) and contact information for the winning seller. You should try to contact the seller within 3 days. Just click on the "Ask seller a question" link on the item page to create an email.
How do I pay?
Buyers pay the seller the final price of the auction, along with other specified payment terms (such as shipping). You do not pay eBay.
Payment
Some sellers require a small deposit from the high bidder soon after the close of the auction. Check the item description for payment terms. Most sellers will expect payment in full before they will sign over the title. Be prepared to pay the seller by the method they have specified. If you are not sure, contact the seller.
If there is a lien on the vehicle or you will be using a loan to pay, the finance companies involved may have special requirements. Ask your finance company about these details, and check with the seller about theirs.
Title Transfer and Vehicle Registration
When you pay in full for the vehicle, the seller should sign the vehicle title over to you. The vehicle title is the official document of ownership. This process varies from state to state.
Or you can contact the Motor Vehicle department in your state for instructions for the private sale of vehicles, including the process for title transfer and taxes. For a list of Motor Vehicle department web sites click here.
Leaving feedback
Leaving feedback for the seller after the transaction is an important way to help other community members learn about the seller. If you have had a good experience, or a bad one, take a minute to leave your comment. The easiest way to leave feedback for a seller is to go to the item page for the ended auction and click on the leave feedback link.
Fraud Prevention and Insurance
SafeHarbor is a full-service customer support and educational resource to ensure safe online trading on eBay and elsewhere on the Internet.
For more information about our trading rules, start at eBay's Help section.
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