by Andrew Rohrlich
eBay, one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms, has developed a marketplace exclusively for car and car-related shopping. This marketplace is called eBay Motors. Finding and purchasing automobiles on eBay Motors is simple. However, first-time users may find it a little daunting.
There are many cars listed on the platform. Some you can purchase via bids, and others you must buy through best offers. So, it is understandable if the process feels overwhelming for first-timers who are unsure how to buy a car on eBay motors.
Thankfully, there is a way to streamline the process. Check out this explanation addressing how to buy a car on eBay.
An Overview of eBay Motors
eBay Motors functions as eBay's automobile website. It consists of category pages on the site's marketplace related to motor vehicles, car parts, and auto accessories. Buyers can use the platform to purchase new or used vehicles, and sellers can use it to showcase their for-sale cars.
You can find several kinds of vehicles on eBay Motors, including classic cars, collector cars, electric cars, hybrids, commercial trucks, trailers, and recreational vehicles (RVs). eBay Motors allows customers to shop for cars based on make, model, era, body type, vehicle type, and fuel type.
Getting the Buying Process Started
You may be wondering, how does buying a car on eBay work? If you know the year, make, and model of the vehicle you want to purchase, then you can use that information as a springboard on the eBay Motors site. Adhere to the following steps to understand how buying a car on eBay works:
- Go to the eBay Motors homepage.
- Go down to where it says 'Shop by Category.'
- Find the category description called 'Vehicles.'
- Locate the arrow next to it.
- Click on that arrow, and a list of options will appear.
- Click on the category called 'Cars & Trucks.'
- Take a glance at the 'Cars & Trucks' category page.
- Locate the search feature called 'Find a Vehicle.'
- Use the 'Find a Vehicle' feature to locate your desired vehicle.
- Specify the make and model of your desired vehicle
- Choose whether you want a new or used one.
- Type in your zip code to prioritize vehicles near your location in your listings.
Once you finish entering your information and click the 'Find Vehicle' button, eBay Motors will let you narrow down your search even further. On the search listings page that shows up after you click the 'Find Vehicle' button, there is another search feature that allows you to specify the year or year range of the vehicle you are interested in and the distance (in miles) the car is from your location. You can select distances 25 to 500 miles from your house when searching for a car on eBay.
Search Through Auto Listings
Once you have narrowed down your search, eBay Motors will generate listings of vehicles. Each listing should reveal the for-sale car's picture, price, distance from your location, year, and mileage. Take your time when searching through these auto listings, considering that you could potentially have a hundred or more results for your search.
Feel free to use the left sidebar to modify your search. This sidebar will allow you to pinpoint vehicles with clean titles and a specific amount of mileage, body type, exterior color, interior color, and price. Some listings are classified ads that accept best-price offers, while others are car auctions that accept bids. Some listings have a buy-it-now vehicle purchase price. Many vehicles on eBay Motors are pre-owned, and you can pick them up for free.
Read and Consider Every Detail in the Vehicle Descriptions
When you click on a listing you are interested in, read and think carefully about all the details in the vehicle description. The description could have specifics concerning:
- Year / Make / Model
- Vehicle condition (i.e., new or used)
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Title status (i.e., clean or salvage)
- Trim
- Engine
- Transmission
- Body type
- Interior / Exterior color
- Available warranties
- Mileage
- Drive type
- Fuel type
- Exterior / Interior features
- Mechanical features
- Safety features
- Entertainment features
- Terms and conditions related to payment, pickup, and shipping
- Associated fees and taxes
Paying attention to the details in the vehicle description can help you find a car that meets your needs, fits within your price range, and is easy to pick up or ship.
Prioritize Listings That Have Several Photos
Put listings that have several photos high on your priority list. Sellers who take many pictures of their car from different angles and perspectives tell their buyers that they are trustworthy and prove they have nothing to hide. Moreover, these sellers understand that most buyers want a virtual tour of any property they plan to purchase. Providing lots of pictures gives prospective buyers the virtual experience they crave as they navigate how to buy a car on eBay.
Message Private Sellers To Get More Information
Do not hesitate to direct message or email private sellers to get more information about a vehicle you are interested in purchasing. Some private sellers disclose information about their car's fuel efficiency, feature upgrades, and vehicle detailing. Such information could persuade you to make an offer or buy a car on eBay immediately. You could also contact private sellers to discuss the user feedback they received, get a vehicle history report, or ask pertinent questions.
Check Seller Feedback Scores and Reviews
To check a seller's feedback scores and reviews on eBay Motors, click on a seller's feedback profile. Their profile should reveal their feedback rating — whether positive, neutral, or negative — and should have the comments that buyers left the seller. Note that eBay Motors does not include classified ad listings for seller feedback scores. So, for those listings, you can contact the seller and ask them to discuss their buyers' response to the transactions made via classified ads listings.
Request a Vehicle History Report or the VIN
If you want a vehicle history report for a car, contact its seller and ask for the VIN (which is needed to get the report). Most sellers should include the VIN in their vehicle description, but some do not. Feel free to request a vehicle history report outright from a seller. Sellers confident in the car they're selling will gladly disclose its history.
Ask Any Questions You May Have
As you gain a better understanding of how to buy a car on eBay, you may have pressing questions about a vehicle you are interested in purchasing. Some sellers provide an extensive list regarding their vehicle's exterior, interior, mechanical, safety, and entertainment features, while others do not. If you come across a seller that does not offer such a list, you could ask them to give you more information about their vehicle's features.
Many sellers will define the condition of their vehicle as good. However, what people regard as good can differ significantly. If you happen upon a seller who asserts that their for-sale vehicle is in good or great condition, ask them to explain what they mean. Their explanation may convince you to make an offer or prompt you to continue searching for other vehicles.
Finalize the Deal
Once you have found the right car for you and received enough information to feel confident about making a purchase, you will want to finalize the deal. You can complete an in-person visual inspection, engage in price negotiations or auctions, and determine payment and financing options. You need to complete these processes before you can obtain registration.
Conduct an In-Person Visual Inspection, If Possible
If you live near the location of your desired car and want to see the vehicle in person, schedule an in-person visual inspection with the seller. During this inspection, you can look for common warning signs and not-so-obvious signs of damage like cracks, scratches, leaks, and dents. Ask the seller if you can test drive the car during the visual inspection. Then, drive the car for a few blocks to confirm that its engine and braking system are sound.
If you do not live near the location of your desired car, an in-person visual inspection may not be possible. You can ask your seller if they will allow you to conduct a virtual one. During the virtual inspection, your seller will take a video camera or phone and show you all the car parts. Request that your seller uses a high-quality camera so that you can see if the car has damage — whether significant or small.
Negotiate a Reasonable Price or Place the Highest Bid
When discovering how to buy a car on eBay, you may realize that you can use online car valuation tools to negotiate a price. Enter the information listed in the vehicle description in the valuation tool, and it should generate price estimates. Some valuation tools have costs that correlate to the condition of the car.
For example, you may be interested in buying a car on eBay, such as a 1992 Suzuki Swift GT Hatchback 2D with 36,000 miles. If the vehicle is in excellent condition with normal wear, then your valuation tool may encourage you to make offers of around $2,100. If the automobile is in fair condition, then your valuation tool may prompt you to make offers of about $1,700.
Understand that you can use information about the vehicle to determine an offer. For instance, the 1992 Suzuki Swift GT Hatchback 2D may be in fair condition, but you know, based on the knowledge you acquired from the vehicle history report, that the car has been in multiple accidents. Such knowledge may motivate you to make offers lower than $1,700. Your seller may concede to those offers if you use evidence from the report to make your case.
If a seller is auctioning off the vehicle you want, place the highest bid for that automobile. You may have to increase your bid if additional people place bids on the car. The bidding process for most vehicles on eBay Motors takes 5 to 10 days. You can join the process early on, making the first bid and increasing the amount as others place their bids. However, it is best to wait for as long as possible on eBay before placing a bid. Doing so allows you to make the highest bid within the closing seconds of the process.
Choose Payment Options and Financing
Pick a secure payment method to fund your vehicle. Your seller will likely accept cash, certified money orders, cashier's checks, or wire transfers. They may also accept online payment transfers. If you need to finance your vehicle, seek the assistance of a bank or credit union. They will provide you with money in advance, so you can acquire the automobile. Fortunately, buyers can get a car loan for a private party sale.
Make a Plan for Shipping and Delivery
Shipping and delivery of the vehicle can be simple if you reach out to a car shipping service. They will have the resources needed to transport your car to you at a set price. When choosing a service, you can pick between brokers and carriers. Brokers are logistics and management bodies that offer car shipping services. Carriers are drivers who possess a Commercial Driver's License, meaning they are allowed to transport vehicles.
So, when selecting a car shipping service, you can choose between a large company with big hauler trucks or a small business that takes hotshot loads. Before making a selection, research each enterprise you consider. Examine their rates and customer reviews as such information could help you make your final decision.
Ask the seller to prepare their vehicle for shipment and delivery by cleaning out the automobile.
Once the service you choose delivers your car to your home, inspect it immediately. Compare the condition of the vehicle to its photos on eBay Motors. The business you use should have an insurance policy covering any issues or damages your vehicle incurred, such as scratches from highway debris, during the shipping process.
A Safe Private Party Car Checkout
Caramel makes buying and selling private party vehicles seamless. With Caramel, sellers are supplied a link they can add to their car listing on a site like eBay Motors. Buyers use this link to complete the checkout process in which they are directed to the seller's asking price, finalizing the deal from there.
If you're looking to buy or sell your private vehicle securely, get started with Caramel today.
This article was written by Andrew Rohrlich. As a brand and product marketing expert, Andrew Rohrlich has crafted products, experiences and communications for household names like Gap and for multiple automotive technology businesses. For nearly a decade Andrew has studied automotive retail in depth from a customer point of view and aggregated the industry’s best research, thought leadership and know how to provide credible and important information to auto shoppers and sellers.
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