Buying and Shipping a Car on eBay Motors

How eBay Motors Works

eBay Motors is a subsidiary branch of the famous auction website eBay, famously known for its abundance of regular, niche, and outright weird items for sale. eBay Motors is a far more structured and focused auction website where customers can buy specific vehicles, parts and accessories either with an auction-like format or through their “Buy Now” method. Buying a car on eBay Motors is made easy through their search engine, which allows you to specify and personalize your search. When buying specific parts, all you have to do is search by part number or by make and model of a vehicle.

Finding the Right Vehicle

The first thing that customers encounter is the large selection of vehicles and parts. This can be daunting, but eBay Motors has made it super easy for users with no experience to find a specific brand, vehicle model by year, mileage, engine type, and a lot more. 
After using the smart filter system, it comes down to evaluating the listings that have stood out to you the most. Look for listings that provide any sort of vehicle history report, either through the VIN or through external services. Pay attention to any photos and descriptions that the seller has provided; if need be, ask for clarifications or a detailed walk-around video that shows the vehicle in its entirety. It's also important to pay attention to the seller's reputation - we recommend only dealing with sellers who have a strong reputation with recent feedback that is specifically automotive-related.

Understanding the Buying Process

After you’ve found a car that suits you and you trust the seller, you have to decide what sort of buying process best suits you - you can either use the “Buy Now” option or you can bid on the vehicle. Keep in mind that bids have the potential of going long, taking more time, and ending up costing you more - far over your intended budget. eBay Motors allows you to automate the auction process by choosing the Max Bid option, where you allow eBay to bid on your behalf. If you win the bid or choose the Buy Now Option, you have to pay a deposit, which can range from $500 to $2,000 at checkout. Of course, you get eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection, which protects you up to $100,000 in cases of fraud, non-delivery, and undisclosed title issues and defects. After you've finalized the payment on the deposit, you arrange for the car’s shipping or delivery to your address, and once you receive it, you pay the rest of the balance.

Understanding eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection

What Vehicle Purchase Protection Covers

The eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection is a safeguard that protects buyers from fraud, issues with deliveries, and inaccuracies in the title of the vehicle. This basically gives them a way of recourse if there’s an issue with a vehicle that has not been disclosed by the seller. The coverage range is up to $100,000 of the total cost of the vehicle, but it does not include the shipping, nor does it include any fees that have been paid to the platform or to local government agencies for registrations and insurance.

Coverage Limitations and Eligibility

The VPP (Vehicle Purchase Protection) by eBay Motors is quite generous in its coverage; however, it has some limitations. To be eligible, you have to have purchased the car from eBay Motors, and the payment must have gone through eBay’s checkout methods of secure payment systems. The vehicle must be no older than 10 years, the title on the listing must be a clean title, and the reimbursement must be submitted within 45 days of the listing end date.
This means that the eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection does NOT cover you if: The car is older than 10 years; The damage is unverifiable; The damage to the car exceeds the cost of $1,000 per part, including engine and transmission issues. The car has normal wear and tear, which includes scratches and dents. Buyer’s remorse - you can’t return a car through the VPP. Filling a claim is easy; you have to prove it by submitting the car to no fewer than two approved inspections from service facilities, and allow the VPP administrator to inspect the vehicle.

Choosing a Vehicle Transport Option

Since eBay Motors is an entirely online car buying platform, you will have to arrange for the car to be delivered from the seller's house. You can either choose to arrange the shipment yourself, or you can ask the seller to arrange it for you - chances are the first choice will be more convenient and more affordable.
Depending on the vehicle’s condition and quality, you might be inclined to arrange your own vehicle shipping after buying a car and to choose the enclosed trailer option. It provides full vehicle protection and limits the exposure to the outside world. It's very handy when shipping high-profile or expensive vehicles because it reduces the risk of damage or theft in transit. Most people choose the open car shipping option because it's more affordable and allows the transport of larger vehicles, such as full-size SUVs or pickup trucks. It does, however, leave your vehicle exposed to the elements and possible damage from road debris. You can opt for a top-load, but its availability depends on the shipping company you choose.

Coordinating Pickup and Delivery

To properly coordinate when you are shipping a car bought on eBay Motors, you must specify the pickup address and the delivery location beforehand. The best thing to do is to use a trusted car shipping company that has a confirmed carrier network. Carriers are used to going to personal addresses, auction houses or mechanics’ shops to collect vehicles for customers all across the U.S. The best way to coordinate is to give the seller a pickup timeframe that is confirmed by the carrier and the car shipping company you’ve chosen.

Common Red Flags When Buying a Car on eBay Motors

Suspicious Listings and Unrealistic Prices

There are a lot of hidden risks when buying a car entirely online. Luckily, eBay Motors is one of the best ways to get safe car buying online. There are some suspicious things you need to look out for when picking a listing - for instance, an unrealistic price that seems too low for the vehicle that is being sold. Other issues with listings might be the lack of details about the car or poor-quality pictures. The seller themselves might not have any history on the platform, meaning they use a new account that has recently been created. Or maybe the seller simply has a bad reputation. When buying a used car online, the seller needs to provide information like the VIN of the car in its entirety - if they provide a VIN that is not valid, it might be an input error on their part, or it might be a way of fraudulently listing a vehicle that they do not own.

Sellers Asking to Complete the Deal Outside eBay

When it comes down to one of the best eBay Motors buyer tips we can give you is to always use the payment processes that eBay provides. This way, you are protected under the VPP, or eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection system. Any purchases done outside of eBay are not eligible. 
This leads us to the biggest scam that some sellers will try to use on unsuspecting buyers, and that is the eBay Motors escrow scam. It basically entails sellers asking buyers to send a deposit or the full sum through an escrow account, rather than through the payment processors that eBay Motors has in place. This means that they have not set up their account to accept payments through eBay, which happens through an authentication process.
Once the money is deposited through an escrow transfer, the seller disappears, and the listing is removed, leaving no trace and no recourse for the buyer.

Missing Vehicle Information and Documentation

One big red flag when buying a car online, regardless of the service you use, is missing information about the vehicle or vital documentation. Information like the car’s make, model, year, mileage, damage disclosure, location and service history is super vital for the buyer. If the seller does not disclose that information or claims that they do not have a title for the car, then avoid that seller at all costs.

How to Avoid eBay Motors Escrow and Payment Scams

Recognizing Fake Escrow Services

As we mentioned above, one of the biggest issues eBay Motors is facing is the escrow scam. That is why eBay Motors is pushing its partnership with Escrow.com for their escrow transactions, which happen through the eBay platform. Any seller who is pushing you to use unsafe transaction methods like gift cards or wire transfers might be trying to steal your deposit.

Safe Payment Practices

The safest way to buy a car online and the safest payment practices for online car buying are those supported by eBay Motors. eBat recognized several payment methods like PayPal, credit cards or the platform’s own integrated checkout. It also uses Escrow.com for larger sums. Avoid making payments or deposits outside of the safe zone eBay Motors has provided. Any payments that are made outside of the platform are outside of the jurisdiction of eBay, which limits your options to contacting law enforcement.

Final Tips for Buying and Shipping a Car Safely

We’ve discussed quite a lot in this article, so bring it back home: here are some final tips on buying a car online and using the right car shipping services for online car auctions. First, take your time and do your research on the vehicle and the seller - eBay Motors gives you plenty of tools to find information about both - use them.
Second - make smart decisions and use safe, recognized payment methods when you finally decide to buy the car. Pay attention to details like car documentation and seller reputation on the website - opt for sellers who have a good reputation and have been on the site for more than 2 years.
Third - when choosing the car shipping company that will delivery you your car, go for experience, accommodation, affordability, and accountability. Choose between open car shipping and enclosed car transportation depending on the car’s condition and value.