Finding your next vehicle online can be an easy way to shop for a car. The internet provides a wealth of information, customer reviews and price comparisons, so you can quickly and confidently figure out what type of car you want and where to go for a great deal. If you’re considering buying a car online, you may be blinded by the convenience of your purchase, so the experts at Car-Title.org want to ensure you have your eyes wide open to the problems that can occur. Here are six problems you could easily encounter when buying online, and should avoid at all costs.
The car looks nothing like the photos – If possible, all online shoppers should go visit the vehicle before putting down any money or signing a purchase agreement. When you go to visit the vehicle, it’s possible that the pictures were a little more flattering or taken in the perfect light. However, the experts at Car-Title.org recommend making sure the colors, the features and the body style match what was offered in the online advertisement. If anything seems off or the car doesn’t appeal to you in person, you can still walk away from the deal.
The price doesn’t match what you saw online – If the vehicle you saw online is at a dealership, you may find it on the lot for a higher price than what was promised online. There can be ‘online pricing’ that applies to customers willing to buy the vehicle sight unseen. According to the team at Car-Title.org, you can usually negotiate with these dealerships to lower the sticker price to the online price that was offered. However, you should still be cautious of any fees or add-ons the dealer charges to raise the price to the original tag.
The car has obvious issues – If you see the car in person and notice any damage, water marks from a flood or mechanical problems, don’t move forward with the deal. If these issues weren’t mentioned in the advertisement, or didn’t come up when you pulled the vehicle history report, there’s a definite issue with the dealer or the private owner. Finding damage, mechanical issues, or the need for immediate maintenance may not seem like a big investment, but it can mean there are even bigger problems that have been hidden by the seller.
The seller asks for a wire transfer – If you’re dealing with a private seller online, be cautious of how and where you’re asked to send your money. Private online sellers who ask for wire transfers or money orders may be scammers. Preferably, you’ll be able to meet with the seller to look at and to drive the vehicle. If so, the group at Car-Title.org recommends asking the seller to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles with you to transfer the title. The seller should also provide you with a valid bill of sale that states the current owner, your name, how much you paid for the vehicle and the current mileage.
The car doesn’t have all the features listed – Whether you’ve found a car online that’s at a dealership or one listed by a private seller, it should have all the features that were listed in the advertisement. Added features like navigation, Bluetooth or leather seats can bump up the price of a vehicle, so you should look at the car in person to make sure these features are provided if they were shown in the online listing. If the owner or the dealer doesn’t have a valid reason for listing a feature online that’s not available on the vehicle, you should consider it a red flag and terminate your dealings with that particular seller.
The owner doesn’t have a valid title – The experts at Car-Title.org recommend asking a private seller to see the title before getting too involved. If you found the car online, it’s important to visit the owner and look at the paperwork – comparing VINs and features – to be sure the title matches the vehicle. Asking the seller to come to the local DMV with you for a title transfer is the best way to ensure the vehicle belongs to the owner and that he or she has the legal right to sell it to you.