How to pay for car out of state safe & ship
 

Hi Pelican Peeps,

I'm about to pull the trigger on a car posted here in the classifieds, it is a project. I'm worried about the transaction. The person posting from what I can tell has only posted the car for sale on Pelican and responded to a parts classified ad. So, no history here. I asked how he would like to arrange the payment and he said wire transfer. I actually sold a lotus in 2006 to a guy on the lotus forums, he did just wire me the money and I made sure it was put on the delivery truck. What is the best way to do this so I can protect my money a bit, but also not make it difficult on the seller? Unfortunately, the car is across the country so simply flying over there is difficult.

Thanks for your help,

Rodney

There's no magic bullet here. Someone has to take a leap of faith. In all my transactions, it has always been the buyer and that sometimes has been me.

There will always be a moment in time where you no longer have your money and you don't have the car, unless you do a face to face. Be diligent about checking out the car and seller. Finding a car, wiring money and hoping for the best is never a good strategy.

GLWS

I always get a scan of the driver's license and title, then do a search on beenverified.com to be sure that they are the person they say they are. I also ask for a very specific photos of the car to be sure that they actually in possession of the car. If I'm comfortable I ask them to fedex the title and upon receipt I wire the money. I suppose if you're really worried, have them bring the car to a third party for a PPI along with the title, and pay them a little something to make the hand off for you. I've never found this necessary.

It used to be safe but in todays day and age you have to be very careful. I have bought more cars sight unseen then I can count and feeling the person out is always the best security.

I make sure they know I want a copy of the title beforehand to make sure it is properly in the sellers name and they aren't trying to flip and screw you with having to deal with the previous owner. It says VOID the moment it is photocopied so they shouldn't have any problem with it. Then I pay for FED EX to have it sent the same day the wire goes through. If they don't have a tracking number I am on the phone and at the bank ASAP.

Make sure they are using a well known bank. Offer to send a copy of your license with say a number blocked out with theirs in return. Remember if they are on the up and up they are just as nervous so any show of faith is welcomed.

Get a home and cell number and even better a work number. Remember if you offer yours it helps. Not to many scammers are giving out a work name and number that you can check. EBAY or PAY PAL reference.

Get insurance on the car the moment you pay. Remember that car will be sitting there till picked up.

Ask a ton of questions. I always call the person back with a zip code I know is close to theirs and make up some story about a relative that live close and that would they mind if maybe they drop of the check or come see the car. I also might make reference to me being involved in law enforcement. Do they get frustrated or welcome it?

LOL!! Ok i am giving away too many of my tricks. Good luck and most car guys are good people but checking and checking again is needed in todays world.

Post the person and car on here I bet someone will be close or know the car or person.

Thank you all for your responses! This definitely helps. I will summarize my final solution when it happens.

I do this a lot with cars, and everyone here has summarized it nicely. Specific pictures is the big one. If you are really antsy, take one of the pictures and do a goole reverse image search on it, you will see where else it has been posted on the internet.

Also get all of the dude's phone numbers.

As mentioned in a previous post---good luck getting the seller to FedEx the title before any money hits his account. The buyer is the one that takes the most risk in these transactions.

wanna930 wrote "It says VOID the moment it is photocopied" How does that happen? I know my titles don't look right but there is no VOI on them. Can you clarify, please?
Thanks,
LarryT
74 911

I've never had a problem getting a seller to do this. Their risk is minimal because they still have the car. If I don't send the money, they go to their DMV and request a duplicate title.

Only way i sell a car. I'm not signing the title and mailing it out until money has hit my account. Done it this way many times and have never had an issue. I know a lot of others that only operate this way as well.

My car my rules. If the buyer doesn't want to conduct business like that, there are many other cars out there they can purchase.

Absolutely. Seller always makes the rules. I'm just saying the sellers I have dealt with haven't had a problem with it. Not everyone wears a size 9 shoe either.

is there any danger giving out my banks routing # and my account #? There's not much in there but I'd like to keep it. ;-)
Thanks,
LarryT

You give your account number and routing number out anytime you write a check. I have a account that I just keep enough in it too keep it open. That's the account I have anything wired into- is this overkill? Probably.

Say you send out a signed title. Guy gets title. Claims he paid you for the car and you didn't live up to your end of the deal. Not a waste of my time that I want to deal with.

How does Amazon work? Say Matt has skidmarked the hell out of
His tighty whities. He sends Amazon his money for his new undies. And Amazon sends
Him his undies. If that's how Amazon operates on a $2.99 item I think it works for me.

good point, thanks!

Are you really that insecure? I suggest that there is more then one way to do something and you're so butt hurt at someone not doing it your way you start making insults about crapping my pants? Sounds like you need to be buying douches from Amazon, not underwear.

^^^

MountainMan, I bet you would crap your pants if you rode bisch in the MightyMeatlockerTurbo (icicles would be hung in them, too)!

The way you pop them little blue pills I would be terrified we were gonna die when you stroke out.

I've built up a tolerance to the normal ones and have been using the type laced with methamphetamine - will that work?!

I never said you crapped your pants. Calm down mate!

Ok this is what I did....

1. Received lots of pics asking for specific pics so you know they have access to the car.
2. Reviewed other posts on this site from the user
3. Asked for photo copy of full title and inspected to make sure not salvage
4. Asked for photo copy of DL and sent copy of mine to seller
5. Ran a Been Verified check on seller to make sure no criminal activity
6. Checked vin number on car against title
7. Asked for account number from Bank, no western union for wire transfer
8. Asked them to fill out a bill of sale and sign
9. Sent funds to bank account
10. Asked them to send the bill of sale and title signed over via fedex, sending over copy of tracking number on the day funds clear bank.
11. Asked them to agree unconditionally to assist in arranging for pickup of car. This is a must as the transport companies can't necessarily pick up on a specific day or time, they need to be flexible.

I told them that if they agree to all of the above then we have a deal. He did and the car is on its way.

Hope this helps someone!