I am considering the purchase of a car but am unable to conclude the transaction in person. I am comfortable with the condition of the vehicle based on communications with the seller and accompanying documentation but given its location, will need to send payment and then have a transporter pick up the car. Though the seller (private party) seems like someone I can trust completely, I'm still hesitant to send someone I've never met a large sum of money and wait for them to return the car's title. I've done it before but no longer wish to take the chance.
What suggestions would you folks have or what procedures have others followed? I don't know anyone near the seller's location but is there a way to use a third party to conclude the transaction in person? If so, what sort of third party and how do you find them? If this purchase were to be done through ebay, would that provide protection? Or is there another way short of flying cross country to hand over money (which, in this case, will be almost impossible for me due to circumstances) in exchange for the title and a bill of sale, followed by the arrangement for a transporter to pick up the car?
Several years ago, I bought a Miata off of Ebay that was in Virginia. I live in Ohio, and had no way to go get the car. I went to Uship to arrange shipping, but at that time, the area of Virginia where the car was located kept getting slammed by snowstorms. No hauler would pick the car up until everything cleared up.
I had already put the deposit down on the car, so the seller and I both agreed to put the deposit into an escrow account, which the seller set up.
It took about 4 months for me to get someone on Uship to finally go get the car. Sucked for me, because I had paid a decent amount of money, and had to wait so long for the car to be delivered. It also sucked for the seller, because he had the deposit money sitting there for that time, but couldn't touch it.
Communication is the key. We were both frustrated, but neither of us could control the weather.
Fortunately, in my case, the seller was a really cool dude.
YMMV.
Another way to handle this is through a neutral party. I asked someone on our board to help me with a transaction and he gladly did. It improved our friendship, rather than hurting it. Car guys love to help each other and be part of the hunt for cool cars.
I have helped others do this too.
