Ebay Car Shipping Made Easy

Buying a car from eBay can mean getting a huge bargain on a modern or vintage car for consumers. Selling cars on eBay can be a great way to widen your reach and sell more

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Auto Transport
Last Modified: February 21, 2020
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Buying a car from eBay can mean getting a huge bargain on a modern or vintage car for consumers. Selling cars on eBay can be a great way to widen your reach and sell more as a business. In general, the car buying/selling process using the eBay platform is smooth and simple. Buying and selling on eBay can take a lot of the hassle out of the transaction for both parties. However, something both buyers and sellers must consider is eBay car shipping. 

Ebay car shipping is, of course, possible. However, finding the right company to help you transport your new vehicle is an absolute must. You’ll need to know how to avoid scams, what to look for in a service, the rules for shipping a car, how to prepare for a shipment, and more. 

It’s important to note that you should do your own research where possible so you can find the right information for your specific car, location, and budget. Read on and you will find plenty of useful information to help you get started. In no time, you will be able to sell cars or buy your dream car and know exactly how to get the motors from Point A to Point B. 

Does Ebay Ship Cars?

Does Ebay Ship CarsNo, eBay will not ship a vehicle for you. Buying or selling a vehicle on eBay is slightly different to buying/selling a much smaller item that costs a lot less. The buyer is usually responsible for shipping the vehicle once purchased, so they need to find a way to get their newly purchased vehicle with them. An eBay dealership may occasionally offer free shipping or affordable car shipping quotes, but this is not the norm. 

Shipping Your Car From eBay Motors 

So, how exactly do you ship your car from eBay? There’s a lot to consider. Expenses might include shipping, fuel surcharges, insurance and more. This car purchase is not something you should take lightly, even if you managed to get a bargain. Think carefully about how best to ship the vehicle so that it arrives safely to you. The more protection you can afford, the better. 

There are many methods of auto transport. Open and enclosed auto transport, auto transport by train, and towing are all possible options. These options will all depend on the vehicle you have purchased, how much it has cost you, and the sort of protection you are looking for along the way. Finding a reliable car transport company is also a good idea, as they will be able to load, unload, store, and ship the vehicle safely. 

How to Buy a Car Through Ebay

So, how do you go about purchasing a car through eBay? It isn’t all that different to how you would purchase a new pair of shoes or some stationary. Buying a car online means you can cast your net even wider than you usually would and find the ideal one for your needs. You’ll be able to find the car you truly want, and not just choose from what is available on a local scale. 

However, you shouldn’t just go browsing and buy the first car you like. Not all sellers are honest and some might list questionable products. That being said, with the right know-how, you will be able to avoid almost all of the risks. This is why eBay is such a trusted site and many people use it to buy a car. 

Having an idea of the car you would like to buy can help, e.g., the make, the sort of condition, how many miles, approximate price, etc. You can then narrow down your search and see what has been listed on the platform (with tens of thousands of cars for sale, it’s a good idea to narrow it down). Remember, once you have found the car you want, you should not hand over money without going to see it first. More on this later. 

Over 80,000 Vehicles For Sale

More than 4 million cars have been sold through eBay, so the platform must be doing something right. At any given time, there may be as many as 80,000 vehicles for sale on eBay Motors. You can sift through all of these vehicles by filtering out what you don’t want. Select the make, model and year of car you’re looking for. You can also filter by distance and price range. Once you’ve narrowed down the car of your dreams, you can get the purchasing process started.

Once you locate the car you want, you can choose to ‘buy it now’ or place a bid on it, in an effort to get an even better deal. To buy a car from eBay at a price you are happy with, you may need to negotiate with the seller. You will also need to message the seller once they have agreed on your price to arrange payment, as buying cars on eBay is the only time you should not hand over the money immediately. Once you know the car is worth the price and a legit sale, you will then want to hire a reliable auto transport company so that your car arrives quickly.

Is it Safe to Buy a Car Through Ebay?

Is it Safe to Buy a Car Through EbayIt is totally safe to buy a car through eBay — providing you’re aware of a few things. Ideally, you should only be buying cars through trusted sellers. There are a few scams you should be aware of that we will discuss a little later in the post. However, other than scams and unreliable sellers, which are few and far between, it is very safe to purchase your next vehicle on this platform. 

Your next objective will be to find the right shipping company or auto transporter to help you receive your vehicle in one piece and ready to get out onto the road. 

Will The Car Be As Described? 

One of the biggest concerns with car buyers on eBay is that the car will not be as described. The best thing you can do is run the car’s VIN number through Carfax, ensure the seller has the title in their possession, inspect it, and even test drive the car before buying. However, you will only be able to check out the car and test drive if you are buying locally. Make sure you actually buy and pay through eBay too, not outside of the platform. You want to pay the down payment via Paypal too, so that you are protected if something goes wrong. Make sure you don’t do anything risky, like pay with iTunes cards, buy sight unseen, or hand over money without test driving first. 

How to Avoid Ebay Car Shipping Scams

Knowing how to avoid eBay car scams and some of the scams that have been spotted in circulation is important if you want to buy a trustworthy car that is worth your money. Below we will outline a few of them and tell you how to avoid scams in the future. 

  1. The copycat car – you let the seller persuade you to purchase the car outside of eBay. You pay for the car, and  then go to pick it up. However, when you arrive, the seller has no idea who you are. Either the car wasn’t listed on ebay at all, or it was but somebody else purchased it. The person you bought the car from has duplicated a genuine listing and masqueraded as the owner, and then disappeared with your cash. 
  2. The disappearing seller – in a similar vein to the scam we have just described, a seller could easily disappear with your money if you pay in advance for the car. 
  3. The undervalued vehicle – a seller may try to ‘sell’ a car for much less than it is really worth. For instance, a 15k car for 5k. This may not always be a scam, but should ring alarm bells right away, especially if there are conditions such as payment up front. 

Tips To Avoid eBay Scams 

Avoiding scams like the above means taking a few precautions before you set your heart on a car. 

  • Payment on collection – never pay in advance for the car, sight unseen. Be wary of any seller that wants payment in advance. 
  • Check the seller’s profile – is it a new profile? Do they have good feedback? Message them and ask questions if you can. See if they can provide more details and pictures of the vehicle. 
  • Use PayPal or a credit card – this will protect you should something go wrong. 
  • Ebay money back guarantee – this only covers eligible transactions that are completed on ebay and paid for with PayPal
  • Always read the listing carefully – make sure you are buying what you think you are buying. The more you plan on spending, the more careful you should be. 

Common Warning Signs 

The common warning signs listed below should give you immediate reason to be suspicious of the seller and the listing. 

  • Items listed well below their market value – if the price is too good to be true, it likely is. 
  • Sellers who will not meet in person. 
  • Sellers that won’t let you inspect the item before buying.
  • Sellers that can’t provide further images/information. 
  • Sellers that request payment via bank transfer or any other payments not permitted by eBay. 
  • Transactions where the seller and the items are in different locations – criminals often claim that they’ve had to move for work or due to family circumstances, or that they’ve left the vehicle with a “local delivery company.”

How Should You Be Paying For Your Ebay Purchase? 

You should know by now that you will need to factor your shipping cost into the overall cost of your eBay purchase. However, it will also help you to know of the various payment methods you can consider for your purchase. 

  • PayPal – this is eBay Motors preferred way to pay.
  • PayPal credit – this is a form of credit and you will open a credit account if you select this option, so bear this in mind as you may incur extra fees, interest, and make changes to your credit score. 
  • Credit or debit cards – these are accepted on the eBay marketplace.
  • Payment on pickup – this can work well for local purchases. However, once you have handed over the money and the vehicle is yours, eBay will not be able to do anything if there is a problem with the vehicle. It will be your problem. 
  • Financing – this is a credit account from a bank or another lender. 

How Not To Pay

Make sure you never pay for your purchase via the following methods: 

  • Mail
  • Wire transfer
  • Check 
  • iTunes cards 
  • Moneygram 

Paying for the vehicle with the wrong payment method will mean you are not protected if something does go wrong. Be wary of any seller that tries to convince you to pay in a way that is not recommended by eBay. 

Make Sense of Shipping and Delivery

Decide on a car and pull the purchase trigger? There are many ways to arrange delivery. How far away is the car? You may prefer to just pick up the car if it is within a reasonable driving distance. This might be the most cost effective method, but it won’t work for all. If the vehicle is outside of a reasonable driving distance, you might opt for auto transport and delivery.

What Kinds of Cars Can You Ship from Ebay?

What Kinds of Cars Can You Ship from EbayShipping a car with the right shipping company means you will be able to ship any kind of car from eBay. Whether you have chosen to purchase a modern vehicle or something vintage, you can ship them. You simply have to find a shipping company that has experience handling all kinds of cars so that you have peace of mind your vehicle will be handled with the utmost care. 

Can You Ship an Ebay Car Cross Country?

Yes, you can ship an eBay car cross country. Whether you have purchased a car or somebody has purchased a car from you and you need to arrange shipping, these transport services are entirely possible. 

You will, of course, need to consider whether it is worth your while shipping such a large purchase across the country before buying/selling. You will need to allocate a decent portion of your budget to the shipping costs, and this could add up. 

Can You Ship an Ebay Car from Another Country?

Can You Ship an Ebay Car from Another CountryWhen using a shipping company, you could also ship an eBay car from another country. Of course, there are things to be aware of for both buyers and sellers when shipping a car from another country, but it is possible. 

Purchasing A Car 

For example, if you are purchasing a car from another country, you will first need to ensure that the seller is trustworthy and that you are not going to have any nasty surprises upon receiving the car. For this reason, it’s usually only a good idea to purchase a car if you are able to inspect it first. However, you may want to go ahead with your purchase from another country for whatever reason. Make sure you are happy with the shipping costs before you purchase the car, so that you can be sure you have the budget. 

Selling A Car 

If you are selling a car and wondering if you will be able to ship it to a different country, this may make things slightly different. Some sellers choose to only sell their vehicles in their home country, and even only locally, so they can be sure that the buyer is legitimate and that there won’t be any big issues with the sale and shipment of the vehicle. However, you may want to make it clear that the buyer is responsible for the shipment of the car. This means that if they would like to go ahead with the purchase regardless of their country of origin, they can, but you are not under any obligation to pay for it or arrange it. However, you will need to liaise with the buyer to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. 

Shipping New and Used Cars from Ebay

You can ship both new and used cars from eBay. Ebay will usually send you an email containing instructions on how to go about getting quotes from multiple car shippers associated with its car shipping service.

When you have received the quotes, you are able to select the service that suits you best, considering the best deals and value. You can then discuss payment and other concerns with the company. Payment options might vary. Some auto transport companies might expect payment up front. Other might only require a deposit.

Shipping Classic Cars from Ebay

Shipping Classic Cars from EbayShipping classic cars from eBay is always a worry, as you need them to turn up in the perfect condition. This may mean emphasizing the condition of the car to the courier – although it is unlikely they will have treated the car any differently if it was not a classic car. You may want to pay more for insurance in this case, or you may need a more thorough service. It’s up to you to do your research and weigh the pros and cons. 

How Do you Prepare a Car for Shipment

Preparing the car for shipment is crucial if it’s going to get to the buyer in one piece. The instructions are as follows:

  • Find the auto transport company – they will load the car onto the truck and deliver it to the buyer’s residence. 
  • Wash the car – giving the vehicle a thorough wash will ensure that no damage has been caused by the shipping process once it arrives. 
  • Clean the inside – clean the interior and move anything that is not secured. This includes air fresheners and any other loose items. 
  • Disable the alarm – this one is obvious. You don’t want to give the truck driver a fright. 
  • Don’t put in more gas – your car will be heavier with a full tank and this can cause risk to the shipment. As little gas as possible should be in the car. 
  • Check for leaks – a leak should be repaired well in advance of moving day. 
  • Remove custom accessories – they could break in transit. 
  • Check the tire pressure – over inflated or under inflated tires are very risky, and could mean damage to the tire. This can happen during loading and unloading if you have not made sure they are the correct pressure. 
  • Lock the car – this will reduce theft while it is in transit. 
  • Photograph the car – this is in your best interests and should be kept for your records. You should photograph any scratches, dents, paint chips, etc. Consider taking photos of the car from different angles. Also, ensure that all the images are of good quality. 
  • Carry out any necessary car maintenance – take care of other small maintenance tasks. 

Here is the basic car maintenance checklist:

  • Check the fluids in the car (Oil, Brake, Engine Coolant, Power Steering, Washer).
  • Make sure the vehicle has a fully charged battery.
  • Check the tire pressure (Ensure that the tires are not over-inflated or under-inflated).
  • Empty the gas tank to 1/4 to 1/8 full.

You will need to be aware of what the vehicle you are shipping needs and then take care of that on top of everything listed here. 

Documents Needed for Shipping a Car

Documents Needed for Shipping a CarIf you’re shipping a car from eBay, you’ll need to have a few documents in order. The documents needed for shipping a car can include:

  • Title and Registration
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Owner’s Photo ID or Driver’s License

If you’re buying a car on eBay from overseas or another country, you’ll need a few more documents. These documents include:

  • Original Title or Registration
  • Original Letter from the Lien Holder with a photocopy of the title
  • Insurance Information
  • Passport or Other Photo ID
  • Bill of Sale
  • Proof of Sales Tax
  • Import Duties
  • Power of Attorney

Rules for Shipping a Car

There are two main ways to transport a car a from another country: you can choose to drive it yourself, or you can arrange to have it shipped. It’s a good idea to ask the transportation company that you have chosen to work with what their rules for shipping a car are, so you can make sure you are on the same page. However, in general, they will be the same as what we have listed here. You will need to make sure you have all of the correct documents, and perform all of the necessary maintenance and checks on the car to make sure it’s suitable for shipping. 

International Shipping Steps

You may need to ship a car internationally, in which case you will probably be wondering how this will work for you. Below we outline the steps to expect:

Step 1: Pickup

The courier will pick up your vehicle. 

Step 2: Loading the Car

The courier will load the car, the fasten it with lashings, chains and other stabilizing equipment. 

Step 3: Shipping and Delivery 

When the driver reaches the drop off point, they will meet you with your vehicle. You are then free to drive your vehicle whenever you like, but it should be registered in the new country and you should comply with tax and insurance. 

Step 4: Documents 

Of course you will also need to take into consideration permits, export paperwork, and other requirements. 

How is Car Shipping Cost Determined?

How is Car Shipping Cost DeterminedCar shipping cost takes into account various factors. The main details taken into consideration are:

  • Weight and Size of the Vehicle
  • Mileage and Route
  • Fuel Rates
  • Season

It is important to note that the more miles required on a common route would cost less per mile. 

What About International Car Shipping?

  • Model – model doesn’t determine price all that much, it’s more to do with size and weight. 
  • Condition – depending on the time and equipment needed to load and unload the car. Some countries may not have the specialist facilities required. 
  • Location – how far is the car traveling?
  • Flexibility – how flexible are you? If you are willing to receive your car within a certain time frame rather than on a specific day, you could save some money. 

Finding a Strategic Car Shipping Partner

Finding a strategic car shipping partner will help you to get your vehicle to its destination safely and at an affordable price. Do your research by:

  • Searching for local car shipping companies in your area
  • Asking business associates for recommendations
  • Asking friends and family for recommendations 
  • Reading third party reviews
  • Checking out the customer service by asking the company a few questions 
  • Asking for a quote 

How to Get a Quote for Ebay Car Shipping

How to Get a Quote for Ebay Car ShippingGetting a quote for eBay car shopping is really easy. All you need to do is have all of the relevant car details; the make, model, year, size, weight, location to be delivered to, value, and other important documents and information. When you have as much information as possible, you are able to approach pretty much any strategic car shipping partner and ask for a quote. You may then be able to compare quotes – remember, rather than deciding on the cheapest quote, you should go for the quote that holds the best value for money. There is a difference! One quote may cost slightly more, but the service you will receive will make the extra expense worth it. 

Get a quote by:

  • Shortlisting your shipping options 
  • Gathering all relevant information on the car
  • Preparing the documents
  • Knowing the exact location the car is to be picked up from/shipped to 

Remember, a little flexibility can go a long way when asking for a quote. If you can agree to having it delivered within a three day window rather than one specific day, you will likely receive a cheaper quote. 

Ebay Car Shipping with R+L Global Logistics

Ebay car shipping with R + L Global Logistics is reliable and affordable. Our professional logistics staff goes above and beyond to create a strategic partnership with our auto transport customers. We strive to provide safe, timely and value added auto transport services. You’ll find we make eBay car shipping easy and headache-free.

Do you need help shipping a single car from eBay or a whole fleet? Regardless of your needs, we offer scalable auto transport solutions. Whether you are somebody looking to sell a car or buy a car, R+L Global Logistics can work with you every step of the way to ensure that the car arrives in one piece. 

No matter whether you are seeking auto transport to California, auto transport to New York or beyond, R+L Global Logistics is prepared with help with eBay car shipping and more.

Get in touch with R+L Global Logistics today for an eBay car shipping quote. We will make the whole process easy for you! Reach out by phone at (866) 322-1381 or get an auto transport quote online.

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