Is buying a car on ebay safe?

Question

I'm going to bid for a car, but I'm afraid i might get scammed. This is my first time buying a car on Ebay too. Everything seems right, but the car is not inspected. Also, i do not get how the vehicle shipping works = help please!

Answer 1

Buy my car its $5000 for a 2000 chevy malibu....

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Answer 2

Then don't buy it. You may end up with a car that doesn't run and can't be put on the road safely. You WILL get scammed on ebay. Truth.

If you don't know what is going on with "shipping" then stay away from it. If you don't know what you are doing, stay away from it. Why in the world would you buy a car you have NEVER seen or driven?  

Answer 3

you have to know what you are doing.....too do anything...right?

Answer 4

if you are truly interested in buying this car then you need to contact the seller and ask him to meet you halfway somewhere between your houses

then you need to test drive it through all types of roads (town, highway, rural, etc.) to make sure it runs and doesn't have problems

another advantage is that you get to see the car and drive it before you actually buy it

if the seller is really wanting to sell you this car then he should go for it

Answer 5

My current car was bought on ebay and my family have bought and sold a few cars on there as well. You do need to feel comfortable about the car and the seller should answer any questions you have. If you are in any doubt then don't buy it - gut instinct can be quite reliable. I'm not sure about the shipping, we've always gone to collect the car [before payment] to check it over etc.

Even if this car isn't quite right, it can be done and there are some good sellers out there, just be careful and ask questions.

Answer 6

My brother buys & sale's many thing's on e bay , he tell me that they have a good & save way to pay for goods that you buy. I believe that the person that you buy the vehicle from pays for the vehicle to be transported to you . The vehicle should be in the shape that it showed to be on ebay or when you get it you can send it back to the sender for your money back.

Answer 7

Be careful if deal is too good to be tru. and read ebays column about scams and protection. I think its fairly safe but better if it was close to look at. pics dont show anything. i love how some describe"as you see in the picture" yeah. from 20 feet away. it looks perfect. Be smart

Answer 8

Transportation charges will be a killer. I solicited offers to move a car 75 miles. They wanted 750 dollars. Which when you are  trying to buy a cheap car can kill the deal.

I have bought two cars off e-bay motors and have not been scammed (yet).

But if you do not have money to loose, then don't bid. There was a car that a owner had bought years ago and sold it on e-bay. When the new owner went to register it, they found out that it was stolen 10 years before that last owner bought it.

So not all the scams are by the current owner.

If you don't know how you are going to get it home, don't buy it.

Answer 9

I don't think so...We had that experience and we would never, never do it again...