What's the best way to protect myself when purchasinng a car long distance.

[gomezoneill]

I have a opportunity to purchase a car 1200 miles away. The seller want's a certified check. How can I protect myself from him just cashing the check and walking away?
Thanks for any advice.

[MrBonus]

You go there and meet him in person. You transact at a bank or pay a dealership or other intermediary to consumate the transaction.

If you're insistent upon doing it at distance, you want at least a signed bill of sale and a picture of the title before funds are submitted.

I bought my 911 from a Pelicaner in Richmond and took the train down to meet him and drove it back. I bought the Scout from Washington state and we did the bill of sale/title photo via email, then sent funds via PayPal and hoped for the best (had a good feeling from my interactions with the seller).

[jferrante]

Have bought multiple cars long distance with no issues. Ask for him to sign a bill of sale with all the terms. Also have the title mailed over night once you send payment. Still not 100% but worth something.

[Matt Monson]

Best way is to go in person. Second best way would be to get the seller to send you a bill of sale and make sure the bill of sale clearly states that cashing the check is accepting all terms within the BoS. Third option is to pay someone for escrow services.

I just went through this this week. I used option number 2. I'm not stressed about it. I've done this half a dozen times in the last few years. If you've done your homework, verified that the car is real and the seller owns it, it's pretty unlikely they are looking to screw you.

[trond]

don't do it the way I did when I purchased my 80SC off eBay in 2007

Being bored at work through holidays in the Middle East I one day hit the buy it now on eBay on a good looking SC in Hollywood. Did not know anything about anything Porsche and had never been in one. Just knew I wanted one since I was 10.... I never talked to the seller.... no PPI, just a good feedback on eBay. Which is not a small thing.

So I made two separate moneytransfers to get below some 10k limit and arranged to have the car shipped to a colleague in Texas for later pick up.


A month later a friend and I took a flight over and picked up the car in Texas. When we got there my good colleague, who I now believe may have had some drinking issue, had transfered the title to his name and left for work overseas. So there we were with an unregistered car in his name, no insurance and also I had forgotten my drivers licence back in Norway.

With some help from a local mechanic we managed to get the car running OK and set off to Maryland on temporary tags. Several issues had to be sorted out on the journey and it was one of my greatest experiences. Still have the car and have used it as a daily driver until this summer. Now it is being refurbished for our next 20 years together

[steely]

I emailed and talked with the seller, he was kind enough to send me more pics of whatever I asked for. I found someone to do a PPI whose name I got from others not related to the seller.
I discussed the findings with the seller and re-negotiated the price contingent on my personal inspection, then I flew down (PHL to Alabama) and bought it from him when I verified in person and was satisfied. I may have given him a small deposit to show good faith. It worked out great - he's a Pelican BTW.

[yelcab1]

Fly down, shake hands, hand over cash (-ier check), collect signed title, drive off.

[porschenut]

^ +1

[chrismorse]

If you could get the service/repair receipts, it will help you prioritize service and inform you what has been changed from stock, e.g.: cv, front wheel bearing repack,fluid changes,tune,glass replacement, prior accident repair, trans or engine overhaul, etc.
Additionally, mechanics/service writers will note suggested/needed repairs.

Some things may not be obvious during the PPI, like electrical gremlins,rust or intermittent difficulties.

It is always better to know and verify than hope or get surprised.

Chris
(Did time as service writer/manager)

[NYNick]

Is a $20 or $30,000 car worth a $500 flight and a day or two of your time? Up to you...

[Catorce]

Originally Posted by jferrante

Have bought multiple cars long distance with no issues. Ask for him to sign a bill of sale with all the terms. Also have the title mailed over night once you send payment. Still not 100% but worth something.

Done exactly this literally every other month for quite a while. To expand:

1. Agree on price.
2. Get an email copy of title.
3. Do some research on the guy, make sure he is legit. Now is the time to pull the carfax if applicable (i.e. newer than 1981)
4. Get a bill of sale that explains all the terms.
5. Wire the money
6. As soon as seller receives cash, he agrees same day to overnight the pink slip.
7. IMMEDIATELY upon sending cash insure the vehicle!!!! very important!
8. Have the trucker pick it up.

The way I play it, after I send money, I have a bill of sale, an actual pink in my hand (insist on overnight!), and the car is insured. If anything goes sideways, it becomes an insurance issue.

For your own protection, make sure you have a truck on standby. When i have agreed on the price, my next call is to the trucker so I can get *my* property out of there within 24-48 hours. Don't give anyone time to reconsider.

[Catorce]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Is a $20 or $30,000 car worth a $500 flight and a day or two of your time? Up to you...

This is impractical when you buy 6-8 cars per year.

[mkc1962]

Buying long distance is always a good reason for the wife and I too take a road trip. If comfortable up front may fly or do a one way rental. Ask LOTS of questions and ask for evidence of major claims of work. I always ask for a copy of the title pre trip. Most have had it. Personally I avoid any checks if I can, cash is always spoken universally but do understand sometimes finance is involved. If finance have finance person actually contact seller. If it's a scam situation the seller won't want to talk to a finance firm and disclose such things like vin title tc...I have bought many things over long distances only 1 time went south and I came home not satisfied. BUT we still had an enjoyable trip.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Catorce

This is impractical when you buy 6-8 cars per year.

When you buy 6-8 cars a year you either have a problem or you need to make it a business.

[shoooo32]

Originally Posted by Catorce

This is impractical when you buy 6-8 cars per year.

In speaking with a prominent Porsche restorer and dealer, he told me that he and his partner fly or drive to inspect every car they purchase. I balked, assuming that surely he didn't go look at every car. He said no, that after they had been burned on a few deals, they decided that it was worth the effort and expense to do it right. Sure, they rack up a lot of flights, but the knowledge that each car is as promised has made their inventory among the best in the business.

To the OP, a good PPI and a cheap flight will reveal so much more than even a Bring a Trailer listing and comments. You can't lose making the deal in person.

[jlex]

A few years ago, my neighbor wanted to purchase a BMW and had the same concerns. I recommended he use an escrow agency to hold the money until he received the car and was satisfied with its condition. They charge a fee for the service. Can't remember which one he used. I know Escrow.com is one such company. Do some research on various escrow services.

[matthewb0051]

You should read this thread in OT

What to do???

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

Fly down, shake hands, hand over cash (-ier check), collect signed title, drive off.

That's exactly how I handled the purchase of my 93 C2. It was about 1100 miles away from me. I also scheduled the PPI to coincide with my arrival, so that I could be there at the shop while it was being inspected. Smooth transaction.