The search for a safe car at a good price can often take a person beyond the dealership down the road. In fact, sometimes the right vehicle is several states away, and located online. eBay has been a popular place to get merchandise for years, and it may surprise some that the site is being frequently used to buy a vehicle.  Both private sellers and authorized dealerships are frequently partnering with eBay motors in order to cast a wider net of buyers.

Many car buyers like the arrangement as well, especially when they have a good idea of what they want. In many cases, online transactions offer less haggling and pressure than one might experience at a dealership. They will also be able to look through a larger selection, compare asking price against Kelly Blue Book values, and check the vehicle’s history before they commit to the purchase.

A Bargain, With a Catch
While a person may be proud of the bargain they found on eBay, there is one potentially big wrinkle they need to contend with — actually getting the car to them.  There are two basic ways to accomplish this.

• Travel out to the place where the car is located, and drive it home  or
• Have the car shipped to you

Going to Get the Car
Neither option is necessarily cheap. The first takes time as well as air, train, or bus fare to the destination, or working out a deal with a friend to take the time off to get you to the destination to get the car. You may also be able to rent a vehicle with a one way drop off, such as a moving equipment company. By renting a simple van or the smallest truck available, you may be able to get a better deal than going to a car rental place. Depending on the distance to the destination, and the availability of flights, traveling out to the location by air, train, or even bus can prove costly too, especially when it isn’t booked in advance.

Shipping the Vehicle
Overall, shipping a vehicle is usually somewhat more convenient than putting your life on hold for a road trip, but it isn’t as simple as sending for a hand-me down kitchen table or a bunch of books. In order for a a vehicle to be shipped it has to go on an auto transporter truck. It is also more likely that, as the buyer, you’ll take on a greater share of the responsibility of getting the vehicle to you.

How Auto Transporter Trucks Work
An auto transporter is a truck that holds multiple vehicles, and in most cases they don’t start moving toward their destination until they are filled. Transport brokers and dealers can be a big help to those who are looking for a spot for their vehicle to ride from the seller’s city to their own. These brokers call around to find who has an available spot and are usually tasked with the goal of getting the vehicle to the new owner as quickly as possible, or as economically as possible — depending on the customer’s priority. There are some who prefer to contact auto transporters themselves, but the average person will not have the relationships and negotiating power with transport companies which can lead to longer wait times to get their vehicle.

Cutting Down on Ship Time
If you haven’t  actually purchased that car online yet, it’s possible that setting certain parameters can help assure that you have your car that much sooner. Look for a car on the regular route of an auto transporter. While a car sold by someone in a small town away from it all might seem great, it can be a lot harder to get to, especially if it isn’t close to the highway. If it is possible, try to get the seller to agree to bring the vehicle to a nearby major city where the vehicle will be more likely to hitch a ride on a transport truck that is headed toward you. The same logic applies on your end. If you are in a smaller city, and not near a major highway, it’s best to find a ride at least that far.

Riding With, or Against the Snowbirds
The demand for auto shipment isn’t limited to those who are buying a vehicle from someone far away. If your vehicle’s journey is to be from North to South or South to North, it can be helpful to take advantage that comes from following the snowbirds. Snowbirds are usually retired persons who live for several months in a southernmost state during the winter, and live up north in the spring and summer. Rather than putting excess miles on their vehicles, many snowbirds ship their cars to their destination. Transporters are often eager to fill their fleets, and may offer a discount to those who are ready to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. By doing your vehicle shopping in late fall or early spring, you may be able to have your dream can in your driveway that much sooner.
The Right Protection

Once you’ve decided to buy a vehicle that will need to be shipped, it is important that it have the right protection as it makes its journey to you. Some auto transporters bring vehicles to their destination on an open air fleet where the car’s body may be subject to whatever elements it runs into on its journey. Other transporters use closed carriers that leave the vehicle better protected. Open air options are usually less expensive and take less time to find an open spot. In most cases, this option will suffice, however, if you have purchased a brand new and/or luxury vehicle you might find it worth the wait to be certain that your new vehicle is getting a little extra TLC.

In addition, when buying a car on eBay you want to make sure your transaction is secure, especially if there is to be a significant gap of time between when you have paid for the vehicle and when it is actually in your possession. Vehicle scams through various classified venues and through private online sellers are a very real thing. Purchases made through eBay motors are protected through their Vehicle Purchase Protection, up to $50,000. If you’re buying outside of eBay, working with a reputable third party escrow company may be an option, as they can hold the purchase price in a side account until you can be sure that it is the vehicle you were promised.

Checking Insurance

Insuring a vehicle doesn’t just start when you have the keys in hand. That time period where you own a vehicle, but haven’t taken possession of it can often turn the most steady and level headed people into literal or figurative nail biters. This lack of control becomes somewhat easier to take it you have double checked the insurance policy on the vehicle to assure that its comprehensive coverage will keep it protected in case it is damaged as it is making its way to you.

Letting the Other Guy Take Responsibility

If you feel like working out your shipping options on a car you’ve purchased online is too much, it is possible to limit your search to vehicles whose owners have offered to take care of shipping. Many sellers work directly with eBay Motors in order to offer the option. This method provides more guidance during the actual transaction. You can find sellers that offer this option by logging into your account and searching “auto transport” in the main menu bar. The results will bring you to sellers of vehicles who have already narrowed down the list of shipping options for you.