Informed Guide to Buying a Car Online

More and more people are buying cars online. It might be risky, if you have not done this before.

Look into the seller and car thoroughly, remember 'Try before you Buy'!

Research used car prices online:
Try the What Car?  Price Guide, on whatcar.com.  Also look at completed sales listings on eBay to see how much similar cars sold for.

Study the listing thoroughly:
Reputable sellers usually take advantage of the extra space the web allows, giving thorough details on the car and displaying multiple photos. E-mail the seller if you still have question.

Establishing personal contact:
Can help generate some rapport and make the deal go more smoothly.

Before you start bidding, set yourself a clear limit and stick to it:
It’s easy to get carried away with the excitement and pay more than a car is really worth.

If the car advertised is locally: try to view before you bid.

Always run an HPI check on the car. If you 'win', your offer is legally binding, so you need to make sure the car’s history is clean. eBay offers low-cost history checks for cars advertised on its website.

 

Check the seller’s terms and conditions:
Before you bid, make sure you’re happy with them. 

Look at the feedback ratings for the seller:
Do they have a respectable trading record?

Finally, be very suspicious of anything that seems too good to be true – it probably is.

Have Your Say

Have YOU had any experience of buying a car online?  Was it easier or more difficult than you thought?  Why not share your story with us?  Click here to visit our forums or why not post a comment below....