Car Buying Checklist

Interested in buying this vehicle? Use this checklist to help you make a safe and successful purchase.

Here are the most important things to be taken care of when you are buying a car online.

1. Before you buy
2. How to buy
3. What to do when you win

1. Before you buy

Read the vehicle description -- carefully!

Read the seller's description carefully and contact the seller with questions before you go to examine the vehicle. Look for the "E-mail the Seller" link at the top of the listing.

Learn how you are protected

The Vehicle Purchase Protection program helps protect your vehicle purchase against fraud. VPP is available for all eligible transactions completed on the eBay Motors site.

• eBay provides up to $50,000 in free Vehicle Purchase Protection for this vehicle.

Read the vehicle history report

Check the vehicle's history before you buy, and protect yourself from hidden problems. See a sample report. To order a report, go to History Report.

Review the seller's feedback

The seller's feedback rating is a valuable tool to learn about the positives and negatives of a seller's transactional history. When buying a vehicle, look for a seller with positive feedback and take the time to read comments from other buyers to get a sense of the seller's reliability.

Contact the seller

It is important to contact the seller and have your questions answered to your satisfaction before you make an offer or bid on a vehicle. Use the E-mail the Seller link at the top of the listing.

2. How to buy

Find out what the vehicle is worth

Before you make an offer, find out what this vehicle is worth. Go to Price Research to learn what similar vehicles recently sold for on eBay Motors.

Get information on title transfer, registration, and taxes

Contact the seller about the status of the vehicle's title, and visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Web site to get information on the processes and potential costs associated with title transfer, registration, and taxes.

Calculate monthly payments

If you're interested in a loan, you can calculate monthly payments and get current interest rates in Financing. Offers are legally binding, so be sure you can pay the amount in full or have allowed enough time to secure financing before you make an offer.

Estimate shipping or transportation costs

If the seller isn't local, review how much it will cost to ship or pick up (by flying or driving) the vehicle in Shipping.

Make a bid or purchase

You are ready to purchase this vehicle. Learn more in Buying on eBay Motors.

3. What to do when you win

Pay the final amount

Instructions on how to pay for the vehicle will be provided in the listing, or you can contact the seller directly. For your protection, never use instant cash wire transfers such as Western Union & MoneyGram.

Arrange pick up or shipping

It is standard practice on eBay Motors for the buyer to make the arrangements and pay the costs associated with picking up (by flying or driving) or shipping the vehicle.

Transfer title and pay taxes

You're almost done! The last step is to complete the title paperwork and pay any required taxes on the vehicle. This information varies by state and vehicle type so contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office for more information.

Also known as

• car buying checklist
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• used car buying checklist
• buying a used car checklist
• checklist for buying a car
• checklist for buying used car
• checklist for buying a used car
• new car buying checklist
• buying a new car checklist
• checklist for buying a new car

Tags: Buying, Cars, Checklist

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This entry was posted on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 8:10 am and is filed under Buying Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.