So i'm shopping again....
What is the standard operating procedure for buying a car from an individual long distance?
Obviously proceeding with caution is advisable. But once it’s clear that you want the car and the seller seems relatively trustworthy......
Send/wire/pay-pal a deposit? What % of total? Balance upon picking it up?
I’m hoping to have someone local to the car look at it (have a lead or two, anyone in NYC wanna help too...holla, it’s in upper Manhattan) but at the price point i’m looking at it’s not mandatory. Although since i’m planning on driving it home........
TIA guys.
94 530iT&A---92 325i.......”Hang up & Drive!”.....no SERiously
”Bet that phone call doesn’t seem that important now, eh?” Nov 20, 2004
local independent inspection
FWIW - The last two times I bought long distance I had the car inspected by a local independent mechanic. In both cases, the list of problems found resulted in negotiating a lower price from the seller.
Best of luck.
I bought a car cross country...
I just got a signature loan (where the bank loans you cash without equity to back it up, like a credit card advance) and turned it into a cashier's check. Make it out for less than the advertised price and carry a wee bit more cash with you just in case you do end up paying full price.
When you get back you can finance the car (if that was your intention) and pay back the signature loan.
Alternately, I have a friend in Nigeria who owes me some money. I'll give you a check for more than the amount, and you pay me cash and keep the difference. Wait - is that how it goes? Damn - I have to study up on my car sales scams!
- Robin